wfn.org | Episcopalians: World Refugee Day highlights continuing crisis

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

June 9, 2003

2003-128

Episcopalians: World Refugee Day highlights continuing crisis

by James Solheim

(ENS) In proclaiming June 20 as World Refugee Day, United 
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Rudd Lubbers is urging 
faith-based agencies--as well as human rights organizations--to 
acknowledge the ongoing crisis of refugees and lift up the 
courage and contributions of refugees to countries giving them 
safety and a chance to begin their lives anew. 

Richard Parkins, director of Episcopal Migration Ministries 
(EMM), is encouraging all of its 28 affiliate offices to join 
with local groups in giving meaning to this day. As a possible 
theme for observances, Parkins called attention to the recent 
annual report of the US Committee for Refugees citing the 
increase in the worldwide refugee population from 15 to 19 
million persons. Churches are urged to advocate for a more 
generous admissions policy by the US Government, an advocacy 
that has been the longstanding position of the Episcopal Church. 

Parkins commented that "the decline in US admissions since 
September 11, 2001 reflects a significant retreat by the US 
Government from this nation's historic commitment to being 
generous in its willingness to protect persecuted persons." He 
pointed out that the fact that the US expects to admit no more 
than 25,000 refugees this year--a repeat of last year's low 
number of refugee arrivals--contrasts sharply with the admission 
level of 132,000 just 10 years ago. 

"There has been a steady decline in US admissions for the past 
decade," he said, but after the 9-11 terrorist attacks "the 
decline has become so dramatic as to question whether the US 
intends to be a leader in responding to the humanitarian crisis 
of millions of forcibly uprooted persons."

A welcoming nation?

Speaking informally a few weeks ago with a group of executives 
from national resettlement agencies--including Episcopal 
Migration Ministries--Lubbers cited the low resettlement numbers 
for the US as a factor that is contributing to a worsening of 
the international refugee crisis. The High Commissioner 
identified the failure of refugees to move from squalid camps 
overseas as a factor contributing to the frustration, 
desperation, and hopelessness that abets the recruitment of 
child combatants and exacerbates forces that cause instability 
and civil conflict. 

Countries that accept fleeing neighbors for temporary sanctuary 
are less hospitable if refugees do not move toward resettlement 
and remain in the misery of overcrowded refugee camps. "Closing 
our doors to refugees not only denies rescue to the world's most 
vulnerable persons but adds to influences that destabilize 
regions and foment unrest and violence," the commissioner said.

In keeping with the spirit of being a welcoming nation, Parkins 
called attention to the recent resolution of the Executive 
Council of the Episcopal Church opposing both the abuses of 
immigrants and asylum seekers and any further expansion of the 
Patriot Act which has given cover to the government's detention 
of immigrants without regard to fair and humane treatment . 

"More recently, an internal review of the government's treatment 
of immigrants conducted by the Justice Department itself 
underscores what civil and immigrant rights groups have been 
saying for the past 18 months--that gross violations of the 
rights of immigrants are occurring in the name of security," 
Parkins said. "Yet the Administration remains adamant about the 
appropriateness of its actions in spite of the findings of an 
official Government audit. Our advocacy against such practices 
must be pursued with equal resolve."

Parkins said that World Refugee Day is "an occasion for 
extolling the benefit of refugees to our communities as well as 
an opportunity to remind ourselves of what we lose if we do not 
uphold our tradition of being a welcoming nation. That tradition 
of hospitality can stand side by side with our desire and need 
to be secure."

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--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.