Update March 8th: Executive Director Mike Melara talks with syracuse.com about the impact of the revised executive orders that were signed March 6, 2017.
February 15: On January 27th, executive orders were signed that severely restricted refugee resettlement in the United States. Since then, the status of the orders and the future of refugee resettlement has been in flux. What is clear to us at Catholic Charities is that we must stand firmly in solidarity with refugees, both those already living in Syracuse and those abroad who continue to look to the United States as a place where they might achieve a brighter future.
Below are actions we’ve taken, actions you can take as a support and links to statements made by us at Catholic Charities and our friends and partners at the Diocese of Syracuse and Catholic Relief Services.
If you have any questions about this developing situation or what you can do to assist, please email us at info@ccoc.us.
Actions Taken at Catholic Charities
- Internal
- Instituted a hiring freeze and worked to reassign refugee resettlement staff in preparation for funding cut. Reduce staff hours by 5%.
- Meeting with stakeholders to discuss solutions and responses.
- Ongoing work with refugee community to reassure individuals of continued services.
- External
- Statements to media
- Advocacy with elected representatives
Actions to Take as a Supporter
- Contact your representatives and implore them to defend refugee resettlement programs
- Visit www.whoismyrepresentative.com to find contact info
- Send a letter to your representative through Catholic Relief Services
- Be an advocate in your community and promote positive representations of refugees. This can be as simple as having a conversation with your neighbor or sharing content from Catholic Charities’ Facebook and Twitter!
- Volunteer
- Contact cholmes@ccoc.us to learn about opportunities
- Provide financial support (indicate “Refugee Services” in memo)
- Donate online at ccoc.us/giving
- Call 315-362-7579
- Send a check: Attn: Donor Development, 1654 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY, 13204
Resources
Catholic Charities’ Jan 27th Statement on Executive Orders
Bishop Robert J. Cunningham’s Statement in Solidarity with Refugees and Exiles
Five Things You May Not Know About Refugees
CRS Calls for Refugee Ban to Be Suspended
Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services in the News
Catholic Charities: Trump order halts 220 refugees approved for Syracuse move
Catholic Charities thanks Syracuse community for supporting refugees
Bishop Calls Faithful to Welcome the Stranger
Two Syrian refugee families arrive in Syracuse amid ups and downs of Trump travel ban