The US Refugee Resettlement Program is in jeopardy

Please let our members of Congress know that they must take action quickly to stop the reprogramming of $94 million in the 2014 budget by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, to resettle refugees and divert them to providing shelter for the surge of unaccompanied children crossing the border. More background information follows at the end of this post, after the legislative contact information.

Call you senator and representative today:

- Michael Bennet (303) 455-7600; (202) 224-5852

- Mark Udall (303)-650-7820; (202) 224-5941

- Diana DeGette (303) 844-4988; (202) 225-4431

- Jared Polis (303) 484-9596; (202) 225-2161

- Scott Tipton (970) 259-1563; (202) 225-4761

- Cory Gardner (970) 351-6068; (202) 225-4676

- Doug Lamborn (719) 520-0055; (202) 225-4422

- Mike Coffman (720) 748-7514; (202) 225-7882

- Ed Perlmutter (303) 274-7944; (202) 225-2645

U.S. Senators for Colorado

Michael Bennet (D)	http://www.bennet.senate.gov/contact/email
Year of Next Election: November 1, 2016
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry - 6     Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry - Chair     Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Nutrition - 6 Senate Committee on Finance - 11     Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure - Chair     Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight - 7     Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness - 7 Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions - 8     Subcommittee on Children and Families - 7     Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety - 4
Denver Metro Office	Washington, DC Office
1127 Sherman St., Suite 150 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 455-7600 Toll Free: (866) 455-9866	458 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 (202) 224-5852

Mark Udall (D)	http://www.markudall.senate.gov/?p=contact_us
Year of Next Election: November 4, 2014
Senate Committee on Armed Services - 5     Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support - 3     Subcommittee on Strategic Forces - Chair     Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities - 4 Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources - 7     Subcommittee on Energy - 6     Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining - 4     Subcommittee on National Parks - Chair Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - 5
Denver Metro Office	Washington, DC Office
999 18th Street Suite 1525, North Tower Denver, CO 80202 P: 303-650-7820	730 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 (202) 224-5941

U.S. Representatives for Colorado

Find Your Representative: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

1-Diana DeGette (D)	http://degette.house.gov/contact/send-me-an-email/email-me
1st District (http://goo.gl/maps/Fvr6d): Denver, Englewood, Littleton, Columbine, Ken Caryl, Glendale, Cherry Hills Village, and Sheridan
House Committee on Energy and Commerce - 8     Subcommittee on Environment and Economy - 4     Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations - Ranking Minority Member     Subcommittee on Communications and Technology - 10
Denver Office	Washington, DC Office
600 Grant Street, Suite 202 Denver, CO 80203-3525 Phone: (303) 844-4988	2368 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-4329 Phone: (202) 225-4431

2-Jared Polis (D)	http://polis.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/default.aspx
2nd District (http://polis.house.gov/district/interactivemap.htm): Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Larimer, Summit, and Park counties
House Committee on Education and the Workforce - 14     Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education - 7     Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions - 8 House Committee on Rules - 4     Subcommittee on the Legislative and Budget Process - 2
Local Offices	Washington, DC Office
Fort Collins Office 300 E. Horsetooth Rd. #103 Fort Collins, CO 80525 Phone: (970) 226-1239 Boulder Office 4770 Baseline Rd, #220 Boulder, CO 80303 Phone: (303) 484-9596 Frisco Office P.O. Box 1453 Frisco, CO 80443 Phone: (970) 409-7301	1433 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2161

3-Scott Tipton (R)		https://tipton.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
3rd District (http://tipton.house.gov/our-district): Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel counties
House Committee on Agriculture - 10     Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry - 4 House Committee on Natural Resources - 14     Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation - 8     Subcommittee on Water and Power - 3 House Committee on Small Business - 7     Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade - Chair     Subcommittee on Contracting and the Workforce - 4
Local Offices			Washington, DC Office
Alamosa 609 Main St., #105 Box 11 Alamosa, CO 81101 Phone: (719) 587-5105 Fax: (719) 587-5137 Durango 835 E. Second Avenue, Suite 230 Durango, CO 81301 Phone: (970) 259-1490 Fax: (970) 259-1563 Grand Junction 225 North 5th St., Suite 702 Grand Junction, CO 81501 Phone: (970) 241-2499 Fax: (970) 241-3053	Pueblo 503 N. Main Street, Suite 658 Pueblo, CO 81003 Phone: (719) 542-1073 Fax: (719) 542-1127 Steamboat Satellite PO Box 774932 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 Phone: 970-640-9718		218 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4761

4-Cory Gardner (R)		https://gardner.house.gov/contact-me
4th District (http://goo.gl/maps/mO5sh): Castle Rock, Parker, Firestone, Dacono, Frederick, Longmont, Greeley
House Committee on Energy and Commerce - 21     Subcommittee on Energy and Power - 11     Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations - 7     Subcommittee on Communications and Technology - 9
Local Offices			Washington, DC Office
Castle Rock 7505 Village Square Dr. Suite 207 Castle Rock, CO 80108 Phone: (720) 508-3937 Fax: (720) 583-0873 Greeley 2425 35th Ave., Suite 202 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 351-6007 Fax: (970) 351-6068	Rocky Ford 408 North Main Street, Suite F, P.O. Box 104 Rocky Ford, CO 81067 Phone: (719) 316-1101 Fax: (719) 316-1103 Yuma 529 N. Albany, Suite 1220 Yuma, Colorado 80759 Phone: (970) 848-2845		213 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4676

5-Doug Lamborn (R)	https://lambornforms.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=138
5th District (http://goo.gl/maps/i4wQy): Chaffee, El Paso, Fremont, Park, and Teller counties
House Committee on Armed Services - 15     Subcommittee on Readiness - 9     Subcommittee on Strategic Forces - 3 House Committee on Natural Resources - 5     Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources - Chair     Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation - 4 House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - 2     Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs - 2     Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations - 2
Local Office	Washington, DC Office
1125 Kelly Johnson Blvd. Suite 330 Colorado Springs, CO  80920 Phone: (719) 520-0055	2402 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC  20515 Phone: (202) 225-4422

6-Mike Coffman (R)	https://coffman.house.gov/contact/email-me
6th District (http://coffman.house.gov/about/our-district): Aurora, Brighton, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Littleton
House Committee on Armed Services - 19     Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces - 7     Subcommittee on Strategic Forces - 4 House Committee on Small Business - 4     Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access - 4     Subcommittee on Health and Technology - 3 House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - 10     Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity - 3     Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations - Chair
Aurora Office	Washington, DC Office
3300 S. Parker Road Cherry Creek Place IV Suite #305 Aurora, CO 80014 Phone: 720.748.7514	Rayburn House Office Building Room 2443 Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202.225.7882

7-Ed Perlmutter (D)	https://forms.house.gov/perlmutter/webforms/contact.shtml
7th District (http://perlmutter.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=6): Adams and Jefferson Counties (north and west Denver suburbs)
House Committee on Financial Services - 16     Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit - 10     Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises - 6
Denver Office	Washington, DC Office
12600 West Colfax Avenue, Suite B-400 Lakewood, CO 80215 Phone: 303.274.7944	1410 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202.225.2645

Please ask Congress and the president not to kill the US refugee program

On July 5 the US refugee resettlement program will essentially be defunded for the rest of this fiscal year.

If you watch the news at all, you know that the southern US border is being flooded with young people crossing illegally and coming from mostly Central America. The majority are teenagers, but there are also children and babies among those making the crossing. There was a story on NPR about it just this morning, but it didn’t mention the part about funding (You should listen to this story anyway to get a better understanding of the situation and what's driving it).

US law is very clear that when Unaccompanied Alien Minors come into the country, they must be vetted and processed and provided with whatever services they need while in custody (medical, mental health care, clothing, food, school, etc.). Most of these kids are sent by relatives or sent for by family already in the US. In fact, 85 percent are reunited with family here and will likely wait years until they have to talk to an immigration judge. Those who don't have family here are put into the foster care system and cared for indefinitely. Until they are released into family custody or foster care, they must be properly cared for.

On June 20 (ironically, World Refugee Day), The Office Of Refugee Resettlement stated its intention to reprogram the current FFY 2014 budget to shift all existing funds away from refugee resettlement to instead address the flood of Unaccompanied Alien Minors coming across the southern US border. As stated earlier, ORR, by law, must tend to the needs of these minors who are entering the country illegally; however, ORR has not been given adequate financial resources to carry out that duty for up to 70,000 children and teens while also supporting the resettlement of up to 70,000 refugees.

This ORR reprogramming/budget issue will impact real people who waited patiently in often harrowing conditions and came here legally. On the other hand, it's a fact and a law: Unaccompanied Alien Minors need to be processed. There has been no adequate funding put in place to do that. If Congress and other stakeholders in Washington intervene before July 5, though, it needn't be an either/or situation. An emergency appropriation of $200 million dollars will help the children at the border without doing so at the expense of the refugee resettlement program.

In addition, Congress or the appropriations committee needs to separate into two distinct items the currently single-line item in the ORR budget that combines processing of Unaccompanied Alien Minors and the resettlement of refugees.

Here’s the thing: Nobody wants to touch that. Calling for an emergency appropriation and splitting the Unaccompanied Alien Minors funding into a separate, transparent line item could look like tacit support for illegal immigration to some people. Some in Congress will also gladly hold back if it will make the current immigration situation look like a failure on the part of the Obama administration, and others in Washington may not want to stop the July 5 re-appropriation if it appears that doing so is anti-immigration, which could potentially alienate many voters and constituents.

Many refugees wait many years--10, 15, 20--before they are vetted and cleared and allowed to legally enter the US. If the US takes the funding from the refugee program and uses it for other purposes, we also renege on promises we made to people who helped our troops and government representatives in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. If we can't follow through on the promises of protection and safe haven we made to the people who risked their lives when they provided intelligence, logistical support, translation, and more, we are seen as being untrustworthy and that makes US interests more vulnerable worldwide.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is truly between a rock and a hard place. They must tend to the needs of the minors crossing the border, but they have only the money earmarked for refugees to work with. This shouldn't be an either/or situation. Congress could make an emergency appropriation. Plenty of people would probably stand behind that option—if they only knew it was an issue at all.

If the refugee budget reprogramming goes through, the services to refugees, many of whom are also children, will be gutted. Refugees who are already here will have limited access to care and support.

Members of Congress will be heading home for the July 4 holiday within days. If you plan to contact them, do not wait. This situation is urgent. If you would like to contact the White House, you can do that, too. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants committee has a contact form on its website, along with suggested language for a letter if you prefer written correspondence.

Please let President Obama and Congress know that by granting the emergency funding to ORR, it takes away the problem of sacrificing the needs of one vulnerable population to serve another.

Elder refugees thrive in Aurora

Aurora News Today has produced a story about the collaboration between Colorado African Organization, DRCOG, and the Area Agency on Aging, along with the Aurora Center for Active Adults. Elder refugees often feel left behind and isolated in the resettlement process, but these organizations have combined resources to help this population keep moving, keep learning, and keep finding their place in our community. Click here to watch this uplifting story. The video should launch at the 12:20 mark. Enjoy!

Refugees in the news

In case you missed it, there were some excellent refugee-related stories in the news this week.

From Colorado Public Radio, an excellent overview of the specific and special health needs of refugees. What do doctors and other health care providers need to know and keep in mind when working with refugee patients? This story is about 20 minutes long, but worth every minute. The medical school at the University of Colorado has also added a refugee rotation for its students who are training to be doctors. The first family mentioned in the story was also part of our in-home tutoring program. Click here to link to the story and access the online media player.

From National Public Radio (NPR), an intriguing look at the long, sometimes incomprehensible journey that asylum seekers take to get to the U.S. Although many asylum seekers come into the country as students, workers, or tourists, many others enter on foot, via the U.S-Mexico border, with journeys that originate in places such as China, Sudan, Eritrea, or Nepal. We've heard many similar stories as our students have told us their own accounts of risking everything to find safe haven in the U.S. Click here to listen to the story.

David Gilkey/NPR

Also from NPR, an audio story and photo essay about internally displaced populations in Afghanistan. Although you can read this story, it really is worth the time to listen. The photography tells a story all its own. Click here to access this story.

Photo: KUSA

Last week, you may have come upon this story. It was produced locally and also ran  on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Amira Ali lived the past 24 years believing her daughter had been killed when the family fled an attack on their village in South Sudan. When Amira set up her Facebook account, she soon got the incredible news that her daughter was alive. The two were recently reunited in Denver. Click here to watch this story.

The thing about Facebook...

Did you know we have a Facebook page? We use Facebook to keep our volunteers up-to-date on local events in the refugee resettlement community, to share news, and to offer insights into all things refugee related.

We post updates to our Facebook page several times a week. Even if you follow us there, you might be surprised to know how often we post. You may be thinking, "But I only see posts every few weeks." That's right--it's not you and it's not us and there's nothing wrong with your Facebook newsfeed.

No matter how often we post, Facebook only allows a fraction of those posts to go into the social flow. Most of our posts go out to fewer than ten percent of our followers. Of course, for $30 per post, we could reach a much wider audience, but that's definitely not in our budget. You see, whereas your personal posts go out to all of your friends, posts made on "pages," like those maintained by businesses and nonprofits, only go to all followers if the organizations pay for that distribution. Facebook is only sort-of free in this case.

Why are we telling you this? Because we'd like you understand that the news we post is there for you to see, but you have to go and look for it. It's really easy to do that. Every few days, either search for our name in the search bar at the top of the Facebook page or click on our name on any post you did get to see. Follow that to our Facebook page, and you'll see everything we've posted, in chronological order. You just need to make it a habit to check our page on a regular basis.

Thanks for including us in your social media activities. If you aren't following us yet, just follow this link to visit our page: Colorado Refugee ESL Volunteers. You don't even need to have a Facebook account to view our page; it's public!

In-home tutor training

The next training for in-home tutors will be on Saturday, April 12, 2014. If you would like to join our program, training is mandatory--and you must stay for the entire day! Applications can be found on our website, www.refugee-esl.org under the heading, "Apply to our program."

Save the date!

In-home Tutor Training

Saturday, April 12, 2014

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Breakfast is provided.

Questions? Send your inquiries to sharon_mccreary@dpsk12.org

Coffee, crafts and giving back