The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants has co-led a letter with The America Team for Displaced Eritreans to bring an urgent response to the needs of vulnerable individuals and families in Libya. This appeal was delivered to His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations on Friday with copies to:

In recent weeks, the issue of family separation has come to the foreground of political discussions. This comes after the Administration’s decision to separate families seeking asylum at the border has sparked significant controversy. Numerous families are being torn apart, leading to an increased number of unaccompanied minors. The Administration responded to criticism by stating that the extraordinary measures being taken are simply in response to the surge in number of people attempting to illegally cross the border.

In June, USCRI staff were able to meet some of the masterminds behind the stunning documentary, Sauti: Gayle Nosal (Executive Producer and Director) and Favourite, whose story is told in the film. The film, called “Voice” in Swahili (“Sauti”) because the main characters tell their stories in their own voices, is unique in its depiction of the decades-long protracted refugee situation largely overlooked by much of the world as other global refugee situations continue to emerge.

Here is Gayle’s story on how Sauti came to be:

MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacie Blake
sblake@uscridc.org; 703.310.1166

ARLINGTON, VA -The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) reiterates our opposition to family separation and detention considering the Executive Order signed yesterday.

June 8, 2018

Dear Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) has been building a strong America since 1911. This has meant helping newcomers to learn language, job skills and prepare for citizenship through a Network of agencies across the nation. Since 1980, the USCRI network has resettled over 300,000 refugees from South East Asia, Africa, Middle East, and the former Soviet Union countries.