WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP SYRIAN REFUGEES
ADVOCATE
MFA Policy Reform Agenda
MFA supports U.S. policies that, consistent with national security interests, enhance Syrian refugee admission, appropriate necessary funding for their resettlement, and promote positive messaging to combat three great public fears: economic detriment, terrorism, and Islamophobia. Additive to specific and time-sensitive calls to action, MFA urges you to let your Members of Congress and the Administration know that you expect them to act in accord with MFA's 2017 policy reform platform:
1. Refugee Admissions and National Security
Consistent with national security, expedite increased numbers of Syrian refugee arrivals:
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Urge at least 75,000 admissions in FY 19, including at least 10,000 Syrians
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Ensure Administration accountability for minimum Presidential Determination levels
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Appropriate minimally-sufficient FY 19 funds for Department of State[1] and USCIS resettlement processes, and for USAID[2] emergency assistance programs, particularly to internally displaced persons (IDPs)
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Resist further appropriations cuts that weaken United States Resettlement Program
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Sponsor/support any and all legislation that would extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syria, including S.2144, SECURE, “Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency” Act
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Sponsor/support any and all legislation affirming importance of refugee resettlement and/or assistance for IDPs and opposing discrimination, overt or practical, on basis of religion, nationality, or any protected class
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Oppose RAISE, “Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment” Act, which would permanently cap annual refugee admissions at 50,000 and impose “merit-based” immigration standards, and any legislation that would constrain resettlement
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Urge Administration to rescind four hostile Executive Orders (EOs), consistent with statutory requirements
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and international protocols to which US is signatory
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Refuse to appropriate any funds for EO implementation
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Insist on technology improvements to expedite vetting, assist inter-agency coordination
2. Resettlement and Refugee Integration
Appropriate necessary funding to expedite and improve refugee integration:
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Oppose the move of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) from DoS to DHS and any consolidation of USAID and PRM humanitarian relief roles
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Appropriate FY19 funds for Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement[3]
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Oppose imposition of Administration’s restrictive “assimilation” requirements
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Oppose any legislation that would seek to afford Governors and/or state legislatures authority to refuse Syrian refugee resettlement or any other legislation that would negatively affect resettlement
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Revitalize private sponsorships to increase the numbers of refugees being resettled
3. Public Message
Keep support for Syrian war victims in front of the public as a top priority:
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Dispel the three great fears driving anti-Syrian refugee policy: economic harm; terrorism; Islamophobia
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Refute anti-refugee misinformation, xenophobia, and Islamophobia
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Counter anti-Muslim/terrorist threat language
[1] For DoS’ Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account: $3.604 billion
For DoS’ Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance account (ERMA): $50 million
[2] For USAID’s International Disaster Assistance account (IDA): $4.4 billion
[3] For DHHS’ Refugee and Entrant Assistance account (REA): at least $1.9 billion
Tell your members of Congress to act now.
Contact your representative and urge them to respond to this increasingly humanitarian crisis.
For a great resource on how to advocate for refugees, see the Refugee Council USA 2017 Toolkit.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteer with the Multifaith Alliance
Volunteer efforts are essential for the Multifaith Alliance to effectively carry out all of its programs. As a volunteer, you may be involved in a variety of activities including:
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Working as a staff volunteer at events hosted by MFA.
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Making calls for MFA's media outreach campaigns.
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Assisting in designing MFA's online content.
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Initiating programs to help Syrian refugees at your school, community center or congregation.
If you have any other ideas about how you could volunteer your time and energy to help Syrian refugees, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! To learn more, please contact: Allyson Zacharoff (allyson.zacharoff@multifaithalliance.org).
Help Newly-Resettled Refugees
Refugees, fleeing violent conflict and persecution in remote areas of the world, often arrive to the United States with little means of survival. Many of these refugees enter the U.S. without possessions or English-language skills. In the first weeks, refugees must find housing, employment, and community in order to transition successfully to life in the United States. Refugee resettlement agencies provide assistance to those recently arrived, but due to lack of funding for resettlement projects, their work alone cannot withstand the strain of ever-increasing refugee numbers. Volunteers are essential to the successful resettlement of refugees. From greeting refugees at the airport to donating kitchen items, volunteers offer crucial aid to refugees as they adjust to their new lives in the United States.
Below is a list of possible volunteer activities to help newly-resettled refugees.
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Greet refugee families at the airport.
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Welcome refugees to their new home.
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Transport refugees to appointments - doctors' appointments, job interviews, ESL classes, etc.
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Tutor children, practice conversational English, or help teach English as a Second Language (ESL).
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Befriend a refugee or refugee family.
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Provide cultural orientation or explore the city together.
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Organize a donation drive for furniture, household goods, personal care supplies, etc.
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International Rescue Committee
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Mentor refugee families and individuals.
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Assist refugees to develop effective job-seeking and interview skills.
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Help maintain a New Roots garden.
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Serve as an English language conversation partner with newly resettled refugees and asylum seekers (2-3 hours per week for a year)
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Participate in a letter writing program to asylum seekers in detention (once a month)
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Provide pro bono legal assistance to HIAS clients pursuing asylum or other humanitarian protection in the United States (commitment ranges from 25-150 hours, depending on case type)
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Provide volunteer translation or interpretation for HIAS legal cases (short term opportunities available)
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For physicians and healthcare professionals interested in participating in a medical mission, contact the Syrian American Medical Society.
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For attorneys and those interested in legal advocacy, contact the International Refugee Assistance Project.
To find the local refugee resettlement agencies working locally in your area, click here.
Host an Event:
Check out Refugees Welcome to discover events in your area!
SPEAK OUT
Anti-refugee rhetoric can have long-standing consequences on the success of refugee resettlement and relief efforts. It is important to respond to the misinformation and disinformation with the facts. Furthermore, positive messaging on Syrian refugees can have a major impact on moving the needle of public opinion. If people learn more about what is going on in Syria and hear success stories of refugees that have integrated well, they become much more sympathetic and open to refugees.
Combat anti-refugee sentiment by posting factual information to your social media accounts.
Tweet:
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More than 18,000 Syrian refugees resettled in the U.S. since 2012. None have been implicated in terrorism@multifaithaid
Post to Facebook:
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Syrian refugees are victims, not a threat. Since September 11, 2001, 784,000 refugees have been resettled in the United States. Only 2 have been charged with terrorist activities. None were Syrian. @multifaithalliance
Share a quote by MFA Founder Dr. Georgette Bennett:
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"It is in our interest to safeguard the values that have made America great. Why blame the victims of terror for the evil acts of the terrorists? This runs counter to who we are as a nation, which enshrines religious freedom in our Constitution and has always welcomed the distressed from other lands." @multifaithalliance http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgette-bennett-phd/theyre-victims-not-terror_b_8602730.html
Sign a petition to pledge your support.
We must stand up and take action to help Syrian refugees. You can make a difference right now by signing these very worthy petitions:
1. #WithRefugees Campaign (UNHCR)
2. A Welcome Note to Refugees (HIAS)
Read accurate sources on refugee resettlement in the U.S.
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Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's Mythbusters page.
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The Linking Communities (TLC) Project: Creating Welcome for Refugees sponsored by HIAS.
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Reframing Refugees: Messaging Toolkit developed under the Fostering Community Engagement and Welcoming Communities Project which is supported by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR/ACF/DHHS).
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Resettlement at Risk: Meeting Emerging Challenges to Refugee Resettlement in Local Communities by Melanie Nezar, Senior Director, U.S. Policy and Advocacy, HIAS.
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Do Syrian Refugees Pose a Terrorism Threat? by Daniel L. Byman, Research Director, Center for Middle East Policy and Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center for Middle East Policy.
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Browse "Hatewatch" at Southern Poverty Law Centery and "Combating Hate" at Anti-Defamation League to see instances of anti-refugee backlash.
Respond to the myths about Syrian refugees.
Counter anti-refugee rhetoric and respond to the three great fears -- economic impact, terrorism and Islamophobia -- that hinder sensible and humane refugee policy. Read our Myths & Facts: Syrian Refugees in the U.S.
DONATE
MFA raises awareness of the Syrian refugee crisis, through public outreach and government briefings, and fosters groundbreaking partnerships that will provide aid for Syrian war victims and plant the seeds for future stability in the region. Click here to support MFA's work.
To learn more about the gaps that funders can fill, see our Guide for Philanthropists.
JOIN MFA
Your organization, congregation, company, etc. can apply to join the Alliance.
The Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees is a coalition of faith-based and secular organizations that have raised a united voice to relieve the suffering of Syrian refugees. For a list of the current participating organizations, click here. To add your voice to ours, please fill out this form.
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