photo by Tim Mossholder
Faith, compassion, and common decency compel us to welcome the stranger. We volunteer with the IWC because our fellow human beings need us as they flee climate change, violence, and poverty.
But you know what? We need them, too.
The U.S. population is aging and declining. We are facing a deficit of 3 million workers, including a projected shortage in the next two years of 400,000 home health aides, 29,400 nurse practitioners, and other healthcare workers; and a projected shortage of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians within 12 years (read here how immigrant doctors can address those needs). North Dakota alone—with a population of less than 780,000— has 40,000 job vacancies.
Now is a critical time for advocacy, as the President will be setting a target for the number of refugees to be resettled in the coming fiscal year.
Click here to send an email to your senators and congressperson. If you are pressed for time, use the wording provided; but your own words will have more impact. Choose any or all of these points:
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Hold the administration accountable for setting a refugee admissions goal of at least 135,000 before September 30.
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Support legislation that welcomes refugees and strengthens access to permanent protections, including the Afghan Adjustment Act (S.2327/H.R. 4627)
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Reject funding for punitive, enforcement-based policies and the further militarization of the border
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Support funding to address backlogs and expand case management services.
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Ensure ample funding for humane treatment and refugee resettlement, including the LHHS Refugee and Entrant Assistance Account, the SFOPS Migration and Refugee Assistance Account, and the SFOPS Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Account.
Please take this action and let your elected officials know how you feel; it will take less than five minutes. Then email us here with “I emailed my senators and representative” in the subject line.
