World Refugee Day
“You shall...also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19).
“The global need for loving the stranger through accompaniment of migrants and refugees has never been greater. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports there are now over 100 million people who have been displaced around the world through conflict, famine, climate change, and disasters. With so many lives in danger, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) call Lutherans on this World Refugee Day, June 20, to continue to honor our legacy of generous and compassionate welcome and advocacy for those who seek refuge and safety, including those who have resettled in the United States” (Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton)
Back in 2015, we launched Canopy NWA, a refugee resettlement here in Northwest Arkansas. It’s been a wonderful journey welcoming new neighbors to Arkansas. The first few years of resettlement were made very difficult by the xenophobic policies of the Trump administration. In fact, over the course of that presidency the administration made an attempt to completely disassemble the entire resettlement program.
However, the Biden administration has worked hard in the first year of its administration to rebuild resettlement. We have committed to welcoming refugees at or above historic numbers. Additionally, our nation welcomed over 100,000 Afghan through the airlift of 2021, and we anticipate providing asylum for many Ukrainians in the coming months.
June 20th is World Refugee Day. This year it will also be Juneteenth observed, because Juneteenth falls on the Sunday prior. World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
There are many needed actions to take for refugees and asylum seekers this year. In addition to refugees, this year marks the 10th anniversary of DACA, and this year is also the year we are revisiting Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Haitians, Venezuelans, and Afghanis. Additionally, the Marshallese will be revisiting their compact with the United States, and although the Marshallese are not formal refugees, they are climate refugees, having had to leave their atolls because of climate change and exposure to radiation because of our extensive testing of nuclear weapons there.
On this World Refugee Day, I encourage you to take action on behalf of refugees. Of course if you live in Northwest Arkansas, you can volunteer with Canopy NWA. If you live elsewhere, you can look up your local refugee affiliate and volunteer. Additionally, here are the top ways to take action:
Contact Your Members of Congress: Click here to urge your Members of Congress to protect refugees and cosponsor the World Refugee Day resolution.
Contact your State and Local Lawmakers: Urge your state and local lawmakers to sign this letter calling on the President to meet his commitment to resettle refugees now and in fiscal year 2023.
Amplify on Social Media: Click here to use social media graphics and sample posts.
Here are some World Refugee Day events:
Friday, June 24 at 6:00-7:00pm: Concert on the indoor Millennium Stage featuring C4 Trio, Latin Grammy-winning Venezuelan music ensemble. This event is free, tickets required. You can reserve your ticket online here.
Friday, June 24 at dusk: Screening of Encanto, Disney’s 2022 Oscar winner for best animated feature film. This event is free, no tickets or registration required.
Monday, June 20 at 6:00pm: World Refugee Day concert from the Kennedy Center’s digital archives. This online event is a rebroadcast of our 2021 World Refugee Day concert at the Kennedy Center
Here are additional resources:
LIRS invites the Lutheran community to visit their website to watch an interfaith prayer vigil for Ukraine and use a template for hosting a similar event in your own community, as well as join in other opportunities for advocacy and education alongside our immigrant and refugee neighbors.
RCUSA World Refugee Day Toolkit: You can reference this toolkit for advocacy and civic engagement information, social media and media guides as well as sample language, talking points, a sample state/local resolution, and contact information for refugee advocacy staff.
UNHCR World Refugee Day Overview, World Refugee Day Messaging, and World Refugee Day Toolkit
Immigrant Heritage Month Toolkit and This Week’s IHM Toolkit
Interfaith Immigration Coalition’s World Refugee Day Faith Toolkit, Social Media Toolkit, and interfaith event press release and recording