“PROMISE NYC: Childcare assistance for undocumented families”

“Mayor Eric Adams launched a new childcare assistance program for undocumented families that don’t qualify for federally subsidized childcare by January 2023. The city expects to support at least 600 children over the next six months.”

“Ottawa to help resettle 600 LGBTQ Afghans to Canada: Refugee group”

“An LGBTQ refugee group (Rainbow Railroad) says Ottowa is helping resettle to Canada 600 Afghans who are fleeing persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender identity…

The organization complained that Ottawa’s resettlement programs don’t account for Afghans who are persecuted on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and who often can’t safely flee to neighbouring countries….

The Immigration Department would not confirm the move, citing security risks, but says it facilitates the resettlement of specific groups with stakeholders such as Rainbow Railroad…

The department says it is ‘unwavering’ in its pledge to resettle 40,000 Afghans by the end of 2023. As of Dec. 14, 26,735 had arrived.”

“Somalis flee drought and conflict to Kenya’s Dadaab camps”

“The prolonged drought, combined with ongoing conflict, has sent more than 80,000 Somalis across the border to Dadaab in the past two years, with some 45,000 of them arriving in the last year. As the situation deteriorates, with predictions of yet another failed rainy season, more families are expected to arrive in the coming months...

But resources are overstretched. The ongoing drought has also impacted the more than 230,000 refugees and asylum seekers already living in the series of camps that make up Dadaab, as well as the surrounding host communities.”

“Ukrainian American House hosts first Thanksgiving celebration for Ukrainian refugees in Sacramento”

“(Chairman of American Ukrainian House) Skots said, for many, this would be their first Thanksgiving celebration. The organization is actively working to support Ukrainian families, he said, that have fled the country due to the war and families that remain in Ukraine.

Vadim Dashkevych, a senior pastor at Spring of Life Ukrainian Church, said the church is focused on providing a wide range of support, including offering the church as a place for fellowship on Saturday nights.

Dashkevych said the three barriers he is seeing the most for refugee families involve housing, work and transportation, however, he said the emotional stress of the war is taking its toll too.”

“Cinema has failed Arab women and refugees. It’s time things changed”

“Hollywood has its gallery of stereotypes, but in her new film The Swimmers director Sally El Hosaini saw a chance to make heroes out of modern, multifaceted Arab women…

(She writes…) ‘Arab women were pretty much nonexistent. If present, they were either oppressed victims, veiled in black, or – again – sexy bellydancers. After 9/11, a third role opened up: the terrorist.’”

“More than 50,000 migrants ‘die in search of a better life’“

“After risking their lives on dangerous journeys, more than 50,000 migrants are known to have died worldwide since 2014, the UN migration agency, IOM, said… The tragic milestone was confirmed in a new report from the International Organization for Migration’s Missing Migrants Project, which also maintains that little action had been taken by any country of origin, transit or arrival… More than 60 per cent of those who die on migratory routes remain unidentified… The UN agency called for international solidarity in prioritizing search and rescue operations; improving and expanding regular and safe migration pathways; and ensuring that legislation prioritizes the protection and safety of people on the move.” 

“Tampa-based ‘Project Dynamo’ unites parents with newborns evacuated from Russia”

“Just in time for Thanksgiving, a family in Texas have been united with their adopted twin newborn babies who were stranded in Russia. The twins were in a Russian orphanage after being delivered by a Ukrainian surrogate.”

“Displaced families face winter hardships, UN refugee agency warns”

“Millions of Ukrainians uprooted from their homes by the war are facing winter in displacement or living in damaged homes or buildings ill-suited to protect them from the biting cold – with disrupted energy, heating and water supplies, and lost livelihoods.”

“Japan has taken in hundreds of Ukrainians. The welcome for others has been less warm”

“The Ukrainians have been met with an outpouring of sympathy and hospitality in the country…

But the warm welcome Japan has given the Ukrainians contrasts with how it has treated other foreigners fleeing conflict and persecution over the years, say human rights groups. Of 169 Afghans who fled to Japan after the Taliban took over in August 2021, 58 went back to Afghanistan "due to what they say was pressure and a lack of support from the Japanese Foreign Ministry," Japan's Kyodo news service reported last month…

Significantly, Japan is not calling the Ukrainians refugees, but ‘evacuees.’ That is because Tokyo expects them all to go home eventually.”

“They fled a Boko Haram massacre. Now, after years in refugee camps, families return to rebuild their lives”

“Since 2009, the armed Islamist group Boko Haram has waged an insurgency that has displaced more than two million people in (Nigeria’s) northeast, according to the UN…

(There is a) first wave of Ngarannam residents who are moving back in a joint rebuilding project between the Borno State government, the United Nations and the European Union…

The village has been reconstructed with a primary school, teachers’ quarters, a police outpost and residence, and solar powered water facilities, according to the UNDP…

The regional government announced plans in January to close IDP camps and resettle displaced persons by the end of the year.”

“Clashes break out, fires lit at overcrowded Cyprus migrant centre”

“Police have fired tear gas after clashes broke out and fires were lit at an overcrowded reception centre for migrants in Cyprus, according to police and witnesses…

Cypriot news outlet Philenews said clashes broke between asylum seekers from Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, two of the largest migrant groups in Cyprus.

Pournaras has been housing well over its 1,000-person capacity as Cyprus struggles to cope with an influx of asylum seekers from Syria and African countries.”

“Russian Refugee Exodus Poses Dilemma for Its Neighbors”

“The wave of young men fleeing Russia to avoid forced service in the Ukraine war has created a conundrum for the nation’s neighbors, which are torn between a desire to encourage resisters to President Vladimir Putin’s war effort and a fear of admitting Russian agents bent on undermining their societies.

The result has been a mishmash of responses across Europe, with some countries such as Georgia, Germany and Armenia welcoming the draft evaders, and others – such as the Baltic countries, Poland and Finland – slamming shut their doors…

Feelings toward the new arrivals are complicated by the fact that many are reluctant to admit they are avoiding conscription and say they are simply coming to enjoy a neighboring country’s hospitality.”

“Lebanon begins ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees”

“Hundreds of Syrian refugees have left the remote Lebanese mountain town of Arsal in a convoy of trucks headed for the northern border on the first day of a controversial repatriation scheme.

Lebanese authorities say 751 Syrian refugees began returning to Syria on Wednesday under a voluntary programme coordinated by Lebanon’s General Security, the agency responsible for safeguarding the country’s borders.

Rights groups have expressed concerns that the scheme may contain elements of coercion and result in reprisals.

While the UN maintains that conditions in Syria do not allow for the large-scale return of refugees, Lebanese officials say the influx of refugees has cost the crisis-hit country billions of dollars and further damaged its crippled infrastructure.”

“Illegal Border Crossings to US From Mexico Hit Annual High”

“A surge in migration from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in September brought the number of illegal crossings to the highest level ever recorded in a fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection…

Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.

The remarkable geographic shift is at least partly a result of Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to see asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Due to strained diplomatic relations, the U.S. cannot expel migrants to Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua. As a result, they are largely released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.”

“Death toll from sinking of Lebanon boat rises to 94”

“The Lebanese army said it had arrested a Lebanese national who aadmitted to organising the recent [people] smuggling operation from Lebanon to Italy by sea.’…

The number of people who left or tried to leave Lebanon by sea nearly doubled between 2020 and 2021, the UN refugee agency told Reuters earlier this month. The figure rose again by more than 70% in 2022.

The increase has been fuelled by Lebanon’s financial collapse as poverty rates have soared among the population of 6.5 million.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said: ‘No one gets on these death boats lightly.’”

“Dozens of migrants killed as boat sinks off Syrian coast”

“At least 86 migrants have died after the boat they were travelling in sank off Syria's coast… the country's state-run media reported.

Twenty survivors were taken to hospital, while rescuers continue to search for missing passengers.

Officials said Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian nationals - including women and children - were believed to be among the 120 to 150 people on board.

It is not clear what caused the accident.”

“Migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard sue DeSantis in class action alleging fraud”

“In the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status in Massachusetts federal court, the plaintiffs allege that the “ruse” — which DeSantis claimed credit for as part of his effort to highlight illegal immigration — violated constitutional protections under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments and several federal statutes.

In addition to seeking damages, they are also asking the court to block DeSantis and others named in the lawsuit from ‘inducing immigrants to travel across state lines by fraud and misrepresentation.’

The suit further argues that the money DeSantis used was unauthorized because it ‘originated from the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and was therefore subject to its use restrictions.’”

“Migrants who landed on Martha’s Vineyard were tricked by misleading brochure, lawyers say”

“But there’s one problem with what the brochure was promoting: The migrants aren’t anywhere close to being classified as refugees, a specific term under U.S. immigration law. The implicit promises of help, therefore, were misleading and potentially criminal, according to Lawyers for Civil Rights, a nonprofit legal aid group representing 30 of the people who landed on the Massachusetts island last week…

Amid the condemnation from immigrant-rights groups and the White House, DeSantis and his administration have denied that any laws were broken, and he pledged to push ahead with a new $12 million program to relocate “unauthorized aliens” to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that have said they would welcome migrants and asylum-seekers.”

“Migrants stranded in Martha’s Vineyard say they were lied to”

“Migrants in the group said they’d agreed to fly to Massachusetts on the promise of jobs and assistance but didn’t realize they were bound for Martha’s Vineyard. No one on the island knew they were coming and, according to their attorneys, they’d been given falsified U.S. addresses by immigration officials…

The only frame of reference for the migrants, attorneys said, were two maps tucked inside a red folder… The U.S. map had a red line that linked Texas to Massachusetts. The Martha’s Vineyard map had a red dot in the middle…

But the peak season for employment at Martha’s Vineyard just ended, as the season changes and part-time residents leave.”

“DeSantis claims credit for sending 2 planes carrying migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts”

“‘We are not a sanctuary state, and it’s better to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction, and yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures,’ DeSantis said… a day after claiming credit for sending the two planes to the island. ‘Every community in America should be sharing in the burdens. It shouldn’t all fall on a handful of red states.’…

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accused the governors of using migrants as ‘political pawns’ and said their actions amounted to a ‘cruel, premeditated political stunt.’”

“Why Germany Is Betting on 'Practical' Immigration Reform”

“The first step – agreed to by a German government coalition in early July but still awaiting Parliament approval – would affect the status of more than 100,000 migrants who are in Germany under a tolerated stay permit, or “Duldung,” which allows them to stay in the country temporarily even after an asylum application is denied, while still being obligated to leave eventually, according to InfoMigrants. This status is considered legal limbo, but the new law would give those who have lived in Germany for five years a one-year residency permit to meet certain requirements, such as proving German language skills and the ability to support themselves financially. If they do so, they would be able to stay permanently.”

“UK to ‘fast track’ deportations of Albanian asylum seekers”

“The United Kingdom has announced plans to ‘fast-track’ the deportation of Albanian asylum seekers as authorities attempt to tackle a surge in people crossing the English Channel in small boats… ‘Large numbers of Albanians are being sold lies by ruthless people-smugglers and vicious organised crime gangs, leading them to take treacherous journeys in flimsy boats to the UK,’ Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a statement on Thursday. ‘This abuse of our immigration system and people risking their lives cannot go on.’…The Home Office publicity campaign will seek to reverse this trend by warning migrants that they face possible deportation to Rwanda and increased prison sentences for immigration offences.”

“‘Feeling like prisoners’: The plight of Rohingya refugees today”

“…as refugees, many Rohingya have found little reprieve as they mark the fifth anniversary on Thursday of what advocates call Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day…The community remains stuck in a ‘cruel limbo’, according to Norwegian Refugee Council chief Jan Egeland, as refugees contend with a backslide in rights and stagnating opportunities in Bangladesh, and grim prospects of a safe and dignified return to their home in Myanmar.”

“Ukrainian siblings recall long journey from war zone to refugee camp”

“The war in Ukraine, which hit its six-month mark on Wednesday, has devastated the lives and aspirations of millions of young people like Maria and Dymtro. UNICEF estimates that 5 million Ukrainian children both inside the country and living as refugees abroad are in need of humanitarian aid. In order to reach Zaporizhzhia, Maria and Dymtro slept in a car and had to be very careful about their movements. They bought groceries at a store that sold Russian products, they said. They went through a checkpoint where their phones were examined, and they had to erase all photos that had Ukrainian symbols.”

“Dining with a purpose: Restaurant serving refugees' recipes helps immigrants start new lives in the US”

“Located in the enclave of Little Ethiopia, Flavors From Afar is a restaurant that defies categorization, with a menu that changes monthly to feature dishes from the homeland of a refugee or immigrant chef…The restaurant has featured chefs from places like Venezuela, Eritrea, Fiji, Haiti, Belize, Syria and Chechnya. While several of these individuals have gone on to careers in the food industry, for Hussein-Cattan, the restaurant is about more than career development. It's a way of celebrating each person's journey, by honoring their creativity and culture.”

“Biden administration moves to formalize DACA and shield it from legal challenges”

“The 453-page rule by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to take effect on Oct. 31 and will codify the Obama-era program, which has been governed by a 2012 memo for a decade, into the federal government's code of regulations… ‘Today, we are taking another step to do everything in our power to preserve and fortify DACA, an extraordinary program that has transformed the lives of so many Dreamers,’ Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement to CBS News. ‘Thanks to DACA, we have been enriched by young people who contribute so much to our communities and our country.’”

“Canada on track to exceed lofty 2022 immigration target”

“Canada is on track to exceed its immigration goal of granting permanent residency to more than 430,000 people in 2022, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said on Wednesday… Canada, which depends on immigration to drive its economy and support an aging population, has been ramping up annual immigration and has a goal of adding 451,000 permanent residents in 2024.”

“The other Death Valley: hundreds of migrants are dying in remote Texas deserts”

“Outside experts believe that federal immigration policies have exacerbated the tragedy, forcing migrants into ever-more perilous crossings, and leading refugee journeys – fleeing violence, persecution and climate disaster – to an anguished dead end.”

“51 Migrants Dead After Overheated Truck Is Abandoned in Texas”

“Smugglers are increasingly using trucks to transport migrants. When they overheat, they are ‘nothing but a death trap’ (according to Chief William McManus of the San Antonio Police Department)…

The truck did not have a functioning cooling system, officials said, leaving those secreted inside sweltering as outside temperatures soared above 100 degrees on Monday. No water was found inside the truck, officials said. The dead included 39 men and 12 women, according to a spokesman for Bexar County; at least 11 survivors were still being treated in area hospitals for heat stroke, some in critical condition.”

“Blue states will begin to see 'reproductive refugees' because of ruling, says professor”

“We are going to see ‘reproductive refugees’ going from state to state trying to find the care they cannot get in their home states, and that’s going to put pressure on access to care, even in blue states, (and) it’s going to make it more limited, less available, and we will all feel the pinch of this.”

“Uprooted by war, some Ukrainians in the UK now face homelessness alone”

“The UK government says 77,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the UK since the war started, through two different programs: the Ukraine Family Scheme, where Ukrainians can be hosted by relatives in the UK; and the Homes for Ukraine scheme, where Ukrainians find a local "sponsor" through friends, charities or even social media, and jointly apply for a visa. According to the UK government, ‘the overwhelming majority... are settling in well.’

However, new preliminary data collected by the UK government shows 660 Ukrainian households sought homelessness assistance from local authorities between February 24 and June 3. And that data does not tell the whole story. Social media groups for Ukrainian communities in London are awash with messages from people falling out with their UK hosts.”

“Call for next head of UN refugee agency to have lived experience as a refugee”

“The message was promoted at the conference (on resettlement) – which has taken place every year since 1995 – by the Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT) rights group, which held a separate panel event on the issue on Wednesday's closing day.

The UN high commissioner for refugees is elected by the UN general assembly for a term of five years. Filippo Grandi, the current UNHCR head, will serve in this position until 2023. The first UN high commissioner for refugees, in 1951, was Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, who fled to London after Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1944. To this day, he is the only high commissioner for refugees to have been one himself.”

“More than 71,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the U.S. since March”

“More than 71,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the U.S. since President Joe Biden announced in March that his administration would welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the country’s war with Russia, according to new data from the Department of Homeland Security.

The DHS data suggests that most of those who have entered the U.S. so far came on visas they held or by crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and not through the Biden administration's Uniting for Ukraine web portal that allows Americans to sponsor Ukrainians they know.”

“‘No Place for a Child’: 1 in 3 Migrants Held in Border Patrol Facilities Is a Minor”

“Since early 2017, one of every three people held in a Border Patrol facility was a minor, a far bigger share than has been reported before now, according to an analysis by The Marshall Project of previously unpublished official records…But the Border Patrol has resisted making changes to its facilities and practices to adapt to children, even while officials acknowledge that the conditions young people routinely face are often unsafe.”

“Supreme Court ends challenge over ‘public charge’ rule”

“The Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out a Republican attempt to revive and defend a Trump-era immigration rule that made it harder for low-income immigrants to qualify for green cards.

The immigration rule, finalized in 2019 and rescinded last year by the Biden administration, allowed immigration officers to deny green cards to immigrants found likely to need public benefits in the future… by evaluating applicants’ past usage of certain benefits programs, as well as their health, education level and other factors. Critics of the rule argued it discouraged immigrants from using needed social services for fear of immigration repercussions.”

“Ukrainian refugees depict trauma of fleeing war in new short film”

“‘Uprooted’ shows how the terrifying memories of conflict live on in those who have escaped and sends a message of solidarity to refugees around the world.

‘My mum told me I had to leave Ukraine straight away. Now, whenever I hear loud noises, I get scared. I just picture that bomb. That’s why I played this role in the film, because it’s actually what happens to me every day in my life,” Olya (‘Uprooted’ actress) said. ‘We made this film to support refugees all over the world experiencing the same trauma.’”

“‘Pets Are Family’: Ukrainian Refugee Reunites With Her Dog in California”

“A Ukrainian refugee has been reunited with her beloved dog at the San Diego Humane Society after being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border about a month ago so the pet could complete a required rabies quarantine.

The San Diego Humane Society will continue to work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to transport and quarantine the pets of Ukrainian refugees as needed, the society said.”

“Myanmar refugees overcome wet weather, floods to start farming co-operative on NSW Coffs Coast”

“Mr Manrhing's dream of starting a farming business was shared by many of the region's Myanmar community members, who came to Australia already equipped with agriculture skills. Together, five refugee families approached not-for-profit group Settlement Services International (SSI) for help… The group registered as a not-for-profit called the Myanmar Community Agriculture Co-operative.”

“Japan's Ukraine refugee policy criticized for putting politics over human rights”

“The Japanese government has been quick to publicize its acceptance of more than 1,000 refugees from war-torn Ukraine. But critics point out that Japanese immigration authorities have been far less willing to open the nation's doors to people fleeing violence and persecution in developing states much closer to Japan.”

Eri Ishikawa, chair of the Japan Association for Refugees: “‘It is a policy of immigration control rather than finding ways to help these people, and that is very different to other countries,’ she said, adding that Japan does not have legal provisions that expressly outlaw xenophobia or racial discrimination, which makes it difficult for human rights groups to push for better treatment of foreign refugees.’” 

“Turkey’s plan to forcibly relocate Syrian refugees gains momentum”

“Turkey’s plan to expand a buffer zone inside northern Syria and use it to relocate large numbers of refugees has gained momentum after officials endorsed a military push that analysts from both countries say will force demographic shifts inside Syria… Turkish officials have claimed that up to 500,000 refugees have voluntarily returned to Syria in the past few years. However, that number is hotly contested, with refugee advocates saying the real figure is close to 80,000, and claiming that many have not returned of their own free will.”

“Number of displaced people passes 100m for the first time, says UN”

“The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said the global number of forcibly displaced people has passed 100 million for the first time, describing it as a “staggering milestone”…The figure hit 90 million at the end of 2021, propelled by a range of conflicts including in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Nigeria… Officials said that the number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution had risen to an unprecedented level due to the war in Ukraine…”

“Refugees in Kenya Gain Employment Rights as New Law Takes Effect”

“Ajak, now a law school graduate says thanks to Kenya’s Refugee Act, getting a job is much easier than it used to be. ‘You had to obtain a research permit before you start research,’ he said. ‘You had to obtain [an] internship permit before you start your internship - all those things. Now it means, you will not need another additional procedure, but just only your qualifications.’ The Refugee Act that was signed into law last year went into effect in February. Some 500,000 refugees who live in Kenya stand to benefit from the measure.”

“How many Ukrainians have fled their homes and where have they gone?”

“The UN says that as of 27 April, more than 5.3 million people have left Ukraine:

• Poland has taken in 2,968,716 refugees

• Romania 801,453

• Russia 641,752

• Hungary 507,849

• Moldova 439,290

• Slovakia 363,940

• Belarus 24,857

Some people have travelled from Moldova into Romania and so are included in both countries' totals.”

“Digital School aims to educate 1 million refugees over next five years”

“Nearly half of all refugee children are not attending school according to the latest UNHCR figures and with recent disruptions globally, the number continues to rise… Determined to make a difference and change lives, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives Foundation in Dubai launched The Digital School and is aiming to enroll one million refugees and underprivileged children over the next five years.”

“The unlikely tool that could help ease the burden of refugees in Europe”

Brett G. Scharffs, Director of Brigham Young University’s International Center for Law and Religion Studies:

“What we are trying to do is make sure that the understanding of health includes mental health. We are also trying to help the United Nations and other officials understand that one of the ways to facilitate mental health is through participating in music especially, but also other types of art and recreation… What we’ve learned is that for persecuted people, music is very important…”

“Homes For Ukraine whistleblower says UK refugee scheme is ‘designed to fail’”

“A whistleblower working on Britain’s Homes for Ukraine scheme has revealed that he and his colleagues ‘don’t know what we’re doing’, and claims the scheme has been ‘designed to fail’ in order to limit numbers entering the UK… Staff working on the helpline for the scheme – introduced after widespread fury over the UK government’s initial response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis – revealed that they received only three hours of training with no follow-up help, and said any complaint or suggestion to improve the system was met with silence.”

“Aid groups helping Ukraine face both cyber and physical threats”

“Employees at Insecurity Insight, a Switzerland-based nonprofit, received a string of malicious links and pornographic material on their cell phones after publishing a report last month on Russian attacks on hospitals in Ukraine… It’s just one example of a range of digital threats facing humanitarian-focused organizations… overwhelmed aid organizations have also had to consider how closely linked the physical security of Ukrainians is to the cybersecurity of their data.”

“Meet Edris, the big yellow school bus that roams Yemen’s refugee camps”

“The Edris bus, funded by Kuwait’s Rahma International Association in collaboration with local authorities, is an attempt to get children back into class. Teaching here has been an experience like no other, says Fady Abu Eiran, one of the four teachers working on Edris. Aside from the days when wind, dust and heat forced the cancellation of lessons outside, the pupils were ‘more responsive and attentive to what they’re being taught, as they’ve been deprived of the experience of classroom for a long time,’ he said.”

“Plans to offshore asylum seekers to Rwanda are cruel and disturbing”

“Rabbis and members of Britain’s Jewish community call on the government to abandon its policy proposal and fulfill its duty to protect, not punish, those fleeing persecution.”

“Ukraine’s Most Famous Living Composer Is Now a Refugee”

“As Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its second month, Valentin Silvestrov, Ukraine’s best-known living composer, has become a musical spokesman for his country. And like millions of Ukrainians, he has been turned into a refugee by the conflict: Over three days in early March, he and his family made their way by bus from their home in Kyiv to Lviv, and from there across Poland to Berlin, where he is now sheltering.”

“Takeaways from Biden’s trip to Europe: Unity, reassurance and a memorable gaffe”

“Biden met with world leaders in Brussels before heading to Poland where he visited U.S. troops not far from the border with Ukraine, toured a Ukrainian refugee center in Warsaw and met with the Polish president before giving a speech on the state of Russia's war in Ukraine.”

“Egypt: Police Target Sudanese Refugee Activists”

“Egyptian Police arbitrarily arrested at least 30 Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers during raids in December 2021 and January 2022 and subjected some to forced physical labor and beatings, Human Rights Watch said (on March 27). Some of the activists targeted had mobilized protests at the Cairo headquarters of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, over harassment and racist treatment by Egyptians, a lack of protection, and resettlement delays.”

“US to welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees”

“‘To meet this commitment, we are considering the full range of legal pathways to the United States,’ the official said, which includes US refugee admissions program, parole and immigrant and non-immigrant visas… The official said the White House will not have to ask Congress to expand the current cap on annual refugees, which is set at 125,000 for fiscal year 2022, because it is more of a ‘long-term commitment’ and there will be other avenues for many of those Ukrainians to enter the United States.”

“Biden administration unveils new asylum rule on US-Mexico border”

“The United States says the new rule will expedite asylum claim processing, but rights groups caution it may lead to quick deportations.”

“Russian Nobel laureate donates medal to Ukrainian refugees”

“Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, a co-winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize and the editor of the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, plans to donate his prestigious medal to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees.”

“Poland welcomes more than two million refugees from Ukraine”

“‘This has been a tremendous effort from the people, local communities, municipalities and government of Poland in receiving and hosting new arrivals,’ said Christine Goyer, UNHCR’s Representative in Poland. ‘What is important now is that the international community steps up to help provide more durable support, while access to protection and asylum is ensured and maintained for all people seeking safety at Poland’s borders.’”

“For Ukraine’s Refugees, Europe Opens Doors That Were Shut to Others”

“Countries that have for years resisted taking in refugees from wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are now opening their doors to Ukrainians as Russian forces carry out a nationwide military assault.”

“Ukrainians flee to European countries, including some that previously spurned refugees”

“Nearly 150,000 Ukrainians have fled to European neighbors, mainly Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania, since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, the United Nations refugee agency said Saturday.”

“Huge traffic jams in Kiev as thousands try to flee Ukraine after Russian invasion”

“Long lines of cars soon blocked roads leading out of Kiev as people tried to leave for other parts of Ukraine and abroad, while others descended on the train station.

Countries across Europe, including Poland and Germany, have said that they will offer support to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict.”

“Vast immigration surveillance program in dire need of reform, Biden administration warned”

“Led by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the 25 lawmakers say the program is punitive, often subjecting immigrants to years of surveillance, and has failed to accomplish its stated purpose of reducing the number of immigrants in detention. Instead, the lawmakers say, immigrants who would otherwise be released are being subjected to electronic monitoring.”

“Kabul to California: how the ‘hip-hop family’ mobilised for young Afghans”

“With breakdancers, artists and parkourists facing a bleak future under the Taliban, a global network stepped in to help, drawing on the activist spirit of rap culture.”

“Ethiopia conflict: thousands of Eritrean refugees flee new deadly attack on camp”

“‘“Refugees who trekked the long distance to the regional capital in Semera told UNHCR staff that armed men entered the camp on 3 February, stole their belongings and occupied their homes,’ said Boris Cheshirkov, speaking on behalf of UNHCR. “According to their testimonies, at least five refugees were killed. Family members lost one another in the chaos of fleeing the camp.”

“Dystopian robot dogs are the latest in a long history of US-Mexico border surveillance”

“The border has long been a testing ground for a range of emerging surveillance and policing technologies, which activists have argued make the space even more dangerous to migrants, all in the name of protection, law and order. Nicknamed the “smart wall”, the tools used at the border include semi-autonomous surveillance drones and surveillance towers equipped with cameras and night vision, and radar.”

“Greece: Refugees, asylum-seekers struggle to integrate”

“The country that prides itself on its tourist hospitality is anything but a safe place for refugees. A recent report by German newsmagazine Der Spiegel and the investigative research initiative Forensic Architecture showed that Greek authorities are extremely violent when pushing back migrants at the EU country’s border with Turkey, holding and beating them in secret prisons without food or access to toilets. The aim is to prevent them from even applying for asylum, an approach which is illegal under both Greek and international law.”

“Texas sues Biden administration to halt program that reunites Central American children with parents in U.S.”

“Texas is one of eight states suing over the Central American Minors Program, which allows some children from three countries to join parents or legal guardians already in the U.S.”

“Egypt: Forced Returns of Eritrean Asylum Seekers”

“Egyptian authorities are deporting Eritreans seeking asylum, including children, without assessing their asylum claims or other protection needs, Human Rights Watch said today.”

“White House plans expedited resettlement for Afghan refugees”

“President Biden's advisers are crafting a plan to accelerate bringing potentially thousands of Afghans to the U.S. from Qatar…It usually takes two to five years for refugee applicants to be resettled in the U.S….Biden officials involved in the discussions have said they're confident the full refugee vetting process can be done in 30 days.”

“‘It’s Russian roulette’: migrants describe nightmarish route across Florida Straits”

“Those who survive the perilous sea crossing between the Bahamas and the US describe a nightmarish odyssey of vomit, sweat and fear... On Wednesday search teams were scouring the shark-infested waters off Florida for any sign of the 39 people lost when their vessel capsized more than three days earlier. One body has been found.”

“Poland begins work on $400m Belarus border wall against refugees”

“The construction has raised human rights concerns over how refugees will be able to seek asylum as well as environmental worries about the effect on wildlife along the mostly forested border.”

“Longtime refugee loophole under microscope after family freezes to death at US-Canada border”

“The tragedy is shining a light on the Safe Third Country Agreement between the U.S. and Canada that's been in place since 2004…According to the law, if someone wants to seek refugee status in the U.S. or Canada (from the other country) and tries to do so at an official border crossing, they will be sent back. However, if they make it across the border illegally and report to a refugee official, they can stay.”

“Escaping junta, more Myanmar refugees cross over into Mizoram”

“Since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, Chin state has been in the forefront of the armed resistance to the junta and has, therefore, faced the brunt of the Myanmar army’s wrath. Following 15,000 refugees, over 2,000 people from Myanmar’s Chin state have crossed over into the border villages of Mizoram since January 5.”

“Police violently break up Afghan refugee protest in Indonesia”

“A peaceful protest of Afghan refugees outside the UNHCR office was violently broken up by police on January 17 in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. The refugees were attempting to draw international attention to their years of displacement, mistreatment, and neglect by the Indonesian government and the international community.”

“How killing of Syrian refugee marks an alarming trend in Turkey”

“The murder of Nail al-Naif, 19, is the latest episode in an alarming trend of violence against refugees in the country.”

“How Denmark’s hard line on Syrian refugees is an aid group’s ethical dilemma”

“Denmark is the first European country to tell large numbers of Syrian refugees to go home. While it hasn’t begun deportations, nearly 400 Syrians from in and around the capital, Damascus, have been stripped of their residency permits and the right to work since 2019.”