Greetings, LIRS Volunteers!
What a promising start to the year we have had! Last month, we directed hundreds of you to our Pen Pal partner organizations around the country. Imagine our excitement when we received an update that said, “There are only two friends left in our local detention center who still need a pen pal!” I am confident that in the next update, we'll hear that everyone in that facility who wants a pen pal has one. Our goal is for everyone held in every facility to connect with a compassionate correspondent, so stay tuned for how to start a Pen Pal program with your local immigration detention center.
Ukraine and our Southern Border As you may know, the United States currently faces two situations with the potential to dramatically impact the immigration landscape. First, President Biden recently announced that the U.S. would welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and people fleeing the conflict in Eastern Europe.
Second, multiple reports indicate that the Biden administration is preparing to end the use of Title 42, an arcane public health order that has been used by both the Trump and Biden administrations to deny asylum seekers protection in the United States. While details about the potential policy termination are not known, LIRS and other organizations are gearing up to receive asylum seekers, who will once again need services and support.
To prepare for the new volunteer opportunities created by these developments, be sure to keep your information up-to-date by filling out the Volunteer Contact Form with any new information, skills, or preferences. We also invite you to visit the Ukraine Crisis Action Hub.
Opportunities Across the Country
While LIRS has an extensive network of partners and affiliates, we do not have volunteer opportunities in every state or county. If you live in an area without an LIRS presence, the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement has this geographic directory to help you find the closest organization to you. Resource hubs like 211 can also help you find local organizations to partner with, many of which serve new arrivals to the country.
Sharing Your Story As always, if you have a story to share, please email outreach@lirs.org and use the subject line ‘Volunteer Vista.' We love to learn about what welcome looks like in your corner of the country.
Blessings,
Christina Iwuagwu
LIRS National Volunteer Action Coordinator |
