Plus: Tablets and training boost refugee businesses, HIAS advocates for refugees
during COVID-19, and more.May 2020


[[link removed]] Continuing the Hard Legal Work in a Time of Limbo
[[link removed]] Shutdowns don’t mean the work has stopped for HIAS lawyers. At Jewish Family
Service of San Diego, a HIAS partner, the agency’s WhatsApp hotline has been
“ringing off the hook” with questions from clients. HIAS now also has two new
Border Fellows helping asylum seekers get to the United States. Read about our legal work.
[[link removed]]As the situation around COVID-19 changes every day, so do our response pages.
Check HIAS.org [[link removed]] for the latest info on our operations.


[[link removed]] U.S. Asylum System Grinds to a Halt During Pandemic
[[link removed]] Before the pandemic, applying for asylum in the United States could take years.
Now, with COVID-19 shutting down federal facilities and immigration courts
across the country, asylum seekers face a “state of chaos,” says HIAS
supervising attorney Cynthia Katz.
Read about the challenges facing asylum seekers.
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[[link removed]] COVID-19 Shows the Need for Strong Refugee Advocacy
[[link removed]] HIAS’ work during the pandemic isn’t limited to providing services and
assistance to refugees. As Congress passes recovery legislation, the
administration issues new immigration policies, and the courts rule on big
cases, we’re pushing to make sure refugees and asylum seekers are cared for and
given access to all of their rights.
Here's what we're asking for.
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[[link removed]] A Tablet Can Be a Lifesaver
[[link removed]] A partnership between HIAS and US Together in Cleveland is putting digital
literacy training and tools like tablets in the hands of some local refugees.
The results: improved English skills, quicker adaptation to American life, and
even a boost to some businesses. Read about the partnership.
[[link removed]]More news and stories on our blog.
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In case you missed it:

* Trump Administration Plans to Extend Virus Border Restrictions Indefinitely
[[link removed]] – Under the guise of protecting the United States from the transmission of
COVID-19, the U.S. has essentially closed its southern border to asylum
seekers. That policy will now continue indefinitely, a move that HIAS
strongly opposes. Naomi Steinberg, HIAS vice president for public policy and
advocacy, said in a statement that the administration is “violating core U.S.
immigration laws that unequivocally guarantee individuals the right to seek
protection in the United States. These laws are not null and void, even
during a public health crisis.”
* How Asylum Seekers In Israel Are Coping With COVID-19
[[link removed]] – Sivan Carmel, HIAS’ country director in Israel, recorded a video about how
the pandemic has upended the lives of asylum seekers there. "Most are just
voicing real anxiety of, 'My money is quickly running out, the landlord is
asking me for rent. Very soon I'm afraid I'm gonna find myself and my kids on
the street,'" she said.
* Up Close and Personal at the U.S.-Mexico Border
[[link removed]] – Volunteer Jeff Paddock took part in one of the last HIAS delegations to the
border before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He wrote an account of his two weeks
working with asylum seekers and watching them cope with the traumas they had
endured.
* A Global Perspective on the Modern Perils of Seeking Asylum
[[link removed]] – As governments around the world react to COVID-19, their actions and safety
measures often target asylum and other human rights. Jessica Therkelsen,
HIAS’ director of legal protection, wrote about how “refugees are losing
nearly all of their rights for an ever-narrowing chance at safety.”

Take Action:

* Find a list of ways that you can help
[[link removed]] refugees and asylum seekers, even while social distancing.
* Learn about our remote volunteer opportunities
[[link removed]] .


[[link removed]] Stay Involved With HIAS@Home
[[link removed]] – Even with COVID-19 restrictions in place, there are still many ways to learn
about, advocate for, and help refugees and asylum seekers. We’ve launched a new
page, HIAS@Home, where we offer calls and webinars with our experts and
partners, refugee-related resources for book and film clubs, and other ways to
stay engaged on refugee issues during the pandemic.Did you know that HIAS is on LinkedIn
[[link removed]] ? You can also find us on Instagram
[[link removed]] and Medium
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For up to the minute news and updates, follow HIAS on Facebook
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