Good afternoon & welcome to the Lab Brief.
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We’ve hit the ground running in 2024, supporting asylum seekers' access to work permits, welcoming new Lab partners, and championing inclusive state legislation.
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Let’s take a closer look.
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#LETASYLUMSEEKERSWORK CAMPAIGN
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It’s time for Congress to focus its efforts on productive and humane solutions that meet our current moment and uphold our values as a nation. One common-sense solution stands out: Let Asylum Seekers Work.
The Lab is partnering with more than 50 organizations nationwide to champion the the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (ASWAA), a bi-partisan bill in the House that would reduce the 180-day waiting period to 30 days, allowing asylum seekers to support themselves and their families much sooner and at the same time fill critical labor shortages across the country.
It’s a win-win-win for people seeking safety, the communities welcoming them, and the economy. That’s why business leaders, faith leaders, state and local elected officials, and asylum seekers have come together to share a strong message: let asylum seekers work! We hope you will join us.
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Andreina Zuluaga, Refugee Congress Delegate and Refugee Storytellers Collective member, knows firsthand how critical work authorization is. In her new piece in City Limits, she explains why access to a work permit was so critical after she was forced to flee political persecution in Venezuela.
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“The hardest thing of all was that I wasn’t allowed to work. Because of a statutory requirement that asylum seekers wait 180 days for a work permit, it was six months before I was granted work authorization. That was a very challenging time.”
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REFUGEE STORYTELLERS COLLECTIVE
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Dana Aljubouri, Refugee Storytellers Collective member and youth activist, writes in The Florida Times-Union about the importance of empathy and education in dismantling Islamophobia and other biases.
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“Only through collective efforts can we combat entrenched prejudices, creating a world where every individual irrespective of faith or background is respected and valued.”
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Are you a refugee leader based in the United States interested in sharing your perspectives, experiences, and stories for social change? Nominate yourself or someone you know for the Refugee Storytellers Collective today.
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The Lab is thrilled to welcome two new organizations to our partner network: Chicago-based Trellus and Every Campus A Refuge.
Are you interested in becoming a Refugee Advocacy Lab Partner? Click here to meet our partners and learn more.
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As most states gaveled into session in January, the Lab and our partners at the IRC are already tracking 189 pieces of legislation that have been introduced in 24 states. While more than two thirds of those are positive measures, 50 propose harmful policies, including a few concerning bills in Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and West Virginia. Stay tuned for Lab resources on how to defend against this type of legislation.
Among the 129 positive, inclusive bills introduced are those to support access to higher education in Vermont and Georgia, workforce development in Washington and Virginia, language access in Maryland and California, and welcoming infrastructure in Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
For a complete review of state legislative activity, you can view the Lab and IRC’s 2024 State Legislative Tracker.
In Lab states, 2024 has started off with some exciting advancements already.
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On January 18th, 150 Georgia businesses, refugee and immigrant leaders, and elected officials, gathered for the Business and Immigration for Georgia (BIG) Partnership’s annual Maximizing Global Talent event. They discussed the state’s healthcare workforce crisis and how creating professional pathways for Georgia’s global talent – including refugee and immigrant doctors, psychologists, counselors, and nurses – can and should be part of the solution. This includes a bi-partisan bill that has been introduced and would provide a pathway to licensure for internationally trained medical graduates.
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Minnesota is following suit, with companion bills supported by Lab partners in the House and the Senate that would amend the licensing requirements for international medical graduates, providing a pathway for immigrant and refugee professionals to practice in their new communities.
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In Oregon, Lab partner Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon has championed the introduction of a bill that would cover legal fees for new Oregonians as they seek to adjust their status.
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In Pennsylvania, bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to establish an Office of New Pennsylvanians. Championed by Lab partners across the state, the creation of this office would serve as a critical hub to coordinate policy, outreach, services and opportunities for refugees and immigrants statewide.
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On January 24th, newcomers and advocates from across the state made their way to Richmond with our partners at Church World Service to meet with elected officials, urging them to promote inclusive housing reform for refugees and newcomers and enact a pathway to re-licensure for International Medical Graduates (IMGs). Following this successful advocacy day, a bill that would
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provide a pathway to practice for IMGs has advanced unanimously through the House and is now being heard in the Senate.
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Thanks for reading!
Are you interested in state advocacy or Lab resources? Reach out.
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The Refugee Advocacy Lab partners with varying groups on different activities, and as such, partnership with the Lab does not necessarily imply a partner’s support for any specific activity or policy. Similarly, the Lab does not necessarily support or endorse specific activities or positions of partner organizations.
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© 2024 Refugee Advocacy Lab, All rights reserved.
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