Open Arms for Refugees

10/29/2025

We have new arrivals and, naturally, new needs. We are seeking 2 apartments worth of furniture. Read our latest update here: https://openarmsforrefugees.org/news-and-needs/

09/12/2025

🇺🇸✨ Important Update for Our Community ✨🇺🇸

On July 4, 2025, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was signed into law, bringing both opportunities and challenges for many of the families Open Arms supports.

✅ The Good News:

The Child Tax Credit has been extended and slightly increased to $2,200 per child.

Along with the large standard deduction, many families saw significant refunds last year and are expected to benefit again this April.

⚠️ The Challenges:

Immigration fees have increased sharply, in some cases from $0.

Starting October 1, 2026, asylum seekers and refugees will lose access to federally-supported Medicaid. (We expect NYS to introduce replacement programs.)

Refugees and approved asylees will no longer qualify for SNAP or Medicaid until they achieve legal permanent resident (Green Card) status—adding more than a year of wait time.

Green Card holders (including Special Immigrant Visa recipients) will keep access to Medicaid and SNAP, but must recertify every six months.

ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents under 14) must show at least 80 hours per month of job search, English study, or volunteer work.

Healthcare co-pays will rise from $0 to $30.

At Open Arms, we remain committed to walking beside families as they navigate these complex changes. With guidance, support, and resilience, we will continue to help our community move forward with strength. 💙

09/10/2025

We are seeking the following for our families. Please email info@openarmsforrefugees if you can help. Thank you!

Items:
Two computer desks, light weight and modern lines
One clean 4x6 or 5x 7' rug
A set of good-condition pots with tops.

Skills:
A supportive property manager to manage a building with 5 refugee families.
Job opportunities in cleaning, child care and care for the elderly. (Experienced but not yet certified).

Volunteers:
Young moms in Ossining to help parents and their k-4 kids connect with the Ossining schools.

09/07/2025

✨ Just before Labor Day, our Open Arms families came together at Louis Engel Park in Ossining to celebrate the close of summer.

Seven Afghan families, three volunteer families, and friends gathered at the waterfront playground and splash park—a perfect setting for laughter, play, and connection. Children chased each other through the water, kicked off a soccer game, and made new friends, while parents shared stories, caught up on summer memories, and looked ahead to the school year.

Pizza, chips, cold water, and grapes kept everyone fueled for more fun, and the tables buzzed with conversation and laughter. Even as the evening cooled, the kids went right back to the splash park—still full of summer energy.

💛 Amid life’s challenges, this simple gathering reminded us of the power of community: joyful, hopeful, and full of promise.

07/30/2025

07/20/2025

We are always trying to help our newly resettled individuals connect with local employment opportunities. Please see the list of skilled and motivated job seekers below and email [email protected] if you might have an opportunity for them.

🔧 K. – Skilled in maintaining construction equipment and exploring opportunities in auto repair.
🍽️ H. – A high school graduate and experienced food server with excellent customer service skills. He enjoys working with the elderly and is also interested in retail—hoping to find work closer to his new home in Peekskill.
👶 F. – A recent high school grad in Ossining with two years of U.S. experience. She’s focused, friendly, and great with children and household tasks.
📚 H. – A college graduate with a degree in Dari literature. She’s bright and ambitious, looking to begin her career working with children or in retail.
🩺 A. – A former gynecologist from abroad, now in White Plains, eager to apply her healthcare knowledge here in the U.S.
🤝 M. – A dedicated mother and Ossining resident with excellent organizational and teamwork skills gained through her volunteer work with the Maryknoll Sisters.

💼 Do you know of a job opportunity that might be a match?
Please reach out to [email protected] — your referral can help change a life!

06/26/2025

🚨 ICE is ramping up arrests at federal courthouses, targeting immigrants during hearings and check-ins.

In San Diego, Sayed Naser—a former Afghan interpreter for the U.S. Army—was detained moments after his first asylum hearing. Despite being accompanied by legal counsel, he was handcuffed in the courthouse hallway.

Naser served the U.S. military for 3 years. He tried to evacuate during the U.S. withdrawal but was left behind. After the Taliban threatened his wife and killed his brother, he fled across continents for safety only to be arrested on arrival.

Instead of a fair process, ICE is now bypassing Notices to Appear and pushing more people into expedited deportations.

“Every message they’re sending to Afghans is we don’t want you here,” says AfghanEvac founder . “If they get sent back, they’re dead.”

⚠️ Accepting SIV holders in Afghanistan is a step forward—but what about those who couldn’t wait and risked everything to reach the U.S.? They too deserve safety.



https://openarmsforrefugees.org/news-and-needs/

06/12/2025

On January 20, the Trump administration paused refugee travel. That pause continues, and on June 4, a new travel ban affecting 12 countries, including Afghanistan, was announced. This ban targets individuals outside the U.S. without valid visas as of that date. Though it does not affect those already in the U.S. or revoke existing visas, the administration has been actively revoking visas in recent months.

The ban does impact U.S. residents separated from family who are in the affected countries. It does not block people from seeking asylum if they reach the U.S. or present themselves at a port of entry—but other restrictive policies at the border still present major hurdles.

Afghans not eligible for SIVs—such as women who served in U.S.-trained tactical units—remain vulnerable and overlooked. Many of the most at-risk Afghans fled through dangerous routes to seek asylum at the border and cannot apply for SIV status. Returning to Afghanistan is not an option as it is a death sentence. Their cases are critically urgent.

As World Refugee Day approaches on June 20, we urge you to join HIAS in standing with refugees. Find local events here:

We are excited to kick off World Refugee Day 2025! Observed each year on June 20, this day honors the resilience, courage, and contributions of refugees around the globe. It’s also a powerful opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges displaced people face—and to advocate for their righ...

05/24/2025

Items still needed!

A few of our volunteers donated items and helped set up an apartment for two women refugees (one from Afghanistan and another from Pakistan) right here in Ossining today. We still need a few items to help complete their set up.

Please email [email protected] if you have these specific items to donate:
2 power strips
1 armoire/closet
1 tall modern pantry cabinet, 2 to 4 feet wide
1 window air conditioner unit

05/21/2025

📢 Recent U.S. Action Puts Afghan Lives at Risk

Earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 11,700 Afghans will end on July 14, 2025.

According to Secretary Noem, the administration is “returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” citing “an improved security situation” in Afghanistan.

But this does not reflect the reality our Afghan neighbors are hearing from family and news sources. Afghanistan remains unstable and dangerous for many.

⚠️ Ending TPS does not cancel individual asylum claims—but the administration’s tone is deeply troubling. It casts doubt on legitimate refugee and asylum requests, including those from Afghans who risked their lives to support U.S. forces.

💬 Our Afghan allies still need protection. Please continue to speak out, share their stories, and demand justice.

05/18/2025

🎉 Celebrating One Year in Westchester! 🎉

This month, we marked the one-year anniversary of six Afghan families arriving in our community—with pizza, laughter, and heartfelt connection. Families from Afghanistan and Colombia, volunteers, and supporters came together in a beautiful show of unity and progress.

Huge thanks to the Ethical Society of Northern Westchester for hosting, and to Assemblymember Dana Levenberg for her encouraging words.

💛 Inspired? Join us—there’s still so much to do.

Visit openarmsforrefugees.org to get involved.