Peace Corps Community for Refugees

06/06/2026

At a moment when immigration dominates the national conversation, Almost American asks a profound question: what does it truly mean to belong?

JOIN A SCREENING
DREAMERS UNDER THREAT:
REFLECTING ON 14 YEARS OF DACA

06/06/2026

“Almost American” tells a story of a DACA recipient who shares his story to help us build a better understanding and support a future where all Dreamers can fully belong.

ALMOST AMERICAN This short documentary grounds our nation’s contentious debate through the lived experience of Sam Soliman, one of many DACA recipients living in the United States. Sam’s story is at once singular and universal: a portrait of resilience in the face of loss, and a reminder that be...

06/05/2026

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition encourages us all to Show Up!

Congress is back from vacation this week, and the budget reconciliation bill may receive a vote in the Senate soon. It would further expand the size and muscle of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies, despite everything we know to be true, like the atrocities federal agents are committing against immigrants and supporters at Delaney Hall.

Please make three phone calls today to help stop this from happening. They all start with the same phone number — (202) 224-3121 — the Capitol switchboard.

CALL 1: Ask to speak to one of your U.S. senators. After the operator transfers you to their office, give the person who answers the phone your name and zip code, and say you want your Senator to vote AGAINST the reconciliation bill, because ICE doesn’t need a blank check.

CALL 2: After saying “thank you” and hanging up, dial the same number and ask to speak to your other U.S. Senator. Every state in the U.S. has two Senators. Repeat the message.

CALL 3: After saying “thank you” and hanging up with your second senator’s office, dial the same number and ask to speak to your U.S. House Representative. Repeat the message and then send these instructions to five friends!

06/04/2026

This paper from the American Immigration Council introduces:

The Four Core Pillars - A New Framework for Interior Immigration Enforcement -
Compliance, Safety, Proportionality and Accountability.

A new framework for U.S. immigration enforcement that prioritizes public safety, fairness, accountability, and humane, proportionate consequences.

06/01/2026

Peace Corps Community for Refugees will host our next “Conversation to Support Refugees“ on June 17th at 8pm EST. Register here and spread the news!

Join us in sharing resources and information in our monthly conversation for June 2026 starting at 8 pm Eastern. This month’s conversation features Rachel Perić, Executive Director of Welcoming America, an organization that supports local leaders to advance policies, practices and a culture of be...

05/30/2026

Added challenges for immigrants desiring to be LEGAL residents:
It’s getting much harder to apply for a green card.

Last week, the Trump administration announced a seismic change to immigration policy: Most immigrants who apply for a green card — or permanent residency in the U.S. — will need to return to their country of origin first. This week, immigration officials started asking applicants why they hadn’t returned home.

This new rule appears designed to put pressure on applicants who came to the U.S. on tourist or student visas, overstayed them and later met the requirements for a green card (like being sponsored by a company or university, or marrying a U.S. citizen).

“Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Zach Kahler said in a statement last week of those who arrive on tourist or student visas first.

Opponents argue that’s an inflexible reading of how people come to the United States that will greatly limit legal migration. “This ignores the realities of life,” argues David Bier, the director of immigration studies at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute. “People come as students, and then they get a permanent job offer. People come to visit friends, and then they get a marriage proposal. People come for whatever reason, and their country is taken over by someone who will persecute them.”

This change comes on top of a travel ban to 39 countries, deep restrictions on refugee admissions while prioritizing White South Africans, harsh treatment of some arriving migrants and scrutiny of how a mother was deported without her American toddler, who was placed with a family member and later killed.

-- Washington Post on-line, May 30, 2026

05/29/2026

The American Immigration Council has shared this Fact Sheet on how the current immigration system works.

A clear guide to U.S. immigration policy and immigration laws—understand the basics of the immigration system.

05/28/2026

SGN: National Immigration Center shares the good news that their client, an 18-year-old girl from Guatemala, is now reunited with her family, after ICE unlawfully detained her for months.

The client, A.M.A, entered the United States as an unaccompanied child. As a minor, she stayed in a youth shelter while her sister, who lives in the United States, completed the necessary steps to become her sponsor. But, on the day A.M.A turned 18, the government unlawfully transferred her into ICE custody — instead of being reunited with loved ones, she was locked in detention and left facing an uncertain future alone.

NILC filed a habeas petition on A.M.A’s behalf, challenging the government’s authority to detain her. In a major victory, the judge ruled that ICE had unlawfully detained her in violation of federal law and ordered her release. Today, she is reunited with her family.

This case is among the first to directly confront ICE’s unlawful practice of subjecting young people like this client to mandatory detention after they turn 18. It sends a clear message: the government is not above the law.

At the National Immigration Law Center, this is one of many habeas cases taken on since the start of the second Trump administration. As the President scales his mass deportation machine, and subjects more people to mandatory detention, individual habeas cases have become some of the only ways that people can be released from ICE’s custody while they fight their case.

The National Immigration Law Center frequently shares updates as these fights for freedom continue.

Kevin Siegel, dSenior Staff Attorney
National Immigration Law Center

05/27/2026

SGN: Some Good News From Actor Rami Malek

Rami Malek moved audiences to tears at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival during the world premiere of his latest project, The Man I Love. The film, a poetic and shattering musical drama, earned an eight-minute standing ovation that left the actor visibly overwhelmed by the response.

During an intimate discussion at the Kering Women in Motion Talk, Malek took a moment to reflect on the lasting impact of his 2019 Academy Award win for Best Actor. He described being the first person of Egyptian descent to achieve this honor as one of the greatest achievements of his life. For him, the award represents more than just personal success: t serves as a symbol of hope for people across the globe who see their own stories reflected in his journey.

Connecting through the Immigrant Experience
The actor emphasized how deeply the concept of the immigrant experience resonates with audiences everywhere. He noted that all over the world, people relate to the feeling of being an immigrant, a status that often carries a heavy emotional weight. By embracing his heritage, Malek has sought to inspire others to connect with their roots and find pride in their unique backgrounds, regardless of where they are currently living.

Empowering Future Generations through Representation
Malek’s presence at Cannes this year highlights his commitment to telling stories that are both deeply personal and universally relevant. By blending his historic legacy as a trailblazing Egyptian actor with challenging new roles, he continues to break barriers in the industry. His reflections on the immigrant experience serve as a reminder that the most specific cultural stories can often be the most powerful and unifying on the world stage.

Share Your Stories!

05/26/2026

This call to action from Global Refuge is to create a more inclusive refugee program. Currently, with a ceiling of 7,500 refugees/asylees, roughly 6,000 slots are going to Afrikaans. Please share!

Global Refuge