United States

Dispatch: Welcoming Afghans Who Made It to the U.S.

Sep 24, 2021

HIAS Public Affairs Officer Andrea Gagne recently returned from Fort Bliss in Texas and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, after several weeks assisting with processing of some of the tens of thousands of Afghans airlifted from Kabul in the days before the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Title 42: Over a Million Expulsions and No End in Sight

Sep 23, 2021

Title 42 has largely closed America’s borders to refugees and asylum seekers. When the pandemic hit, Trump administration invoked the 75-year-old public health law that, they claimed, gave immigration authorities the power to expel migrants without providing them their legally mandated opportunity to seek protection in the U.S.

Refugee Agencies Prepared for Afghan Resettlement

Sep 20, 2021

Resettlement organizations across the United States, including many HIAS affiliates, are prepared, and continuing to prepare for the resettlement of Afghan refugees. Volunteers have offered unprecedented amounts of time, money and furniture.

125k Proposed Refugee Admissions Cap is an Important First Step

Sep 20, 2021

Today the Biden administration informed Congress that it intends to increase the refugee admissions cap, also known as the Presidential Determination (PD), from 62,500 to 125,000 for fiscal year 2022, which starts on October 1. "This is the right thing for refugees and the right thing for the country,” said Naomi Steinberg, HIAS Vice President, Policy and Advocacy.

One Green Card, One Diploma, One Happy Graduate

Jul 02, 2021

Mikes Joseph needed HIAS' help to get his green card so he could graduate nursing school.

President Biden Fulfills Pledge to Raise Refugee Admissions Cap to 62,500

May 03, 2021

WASHINGTON — On May 3, President Biden officially raised the U.S.’ refugee admissions cap for this fiscal year from an all-time low of 15,000 to 62,500. HIAS commends the Biden administration for taking this long-overdue action and acknowledging the vocal public support for refugee...

President Biden Breaks Promise to Raise Refugee Admissions Cap

Apr 16, 2021

WASHINGTON — On April 16, President Biden announced the U.S.’ refugee admissions cap for this fiscal year will remain at the all-time low of 15,000 set by the Trump administration. At the same time, the president is ending the existing discriminatory quotas on the number of refugees who can be...

Good News and Bad News at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Apr 07, 2021

Some asylum seekers trapped in Mexico are finally being allowed into the United States, but other border policies are still causing serious harm to people in need of safety.

How (And Why) to Fix the U.S. Asylum and Refugee Systems

Mar 02, 2021

León Rodríguez, a HIAS board member and former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, explains how to repair the damage to the asylum system and refugee resettlement.

Asylum Seekers Often Struggle to Find Health Care

Mar 02, 2021

Many asylum seekers and other non-citizens struggle to afford or even get access to health care, even in life-threatening situations.

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