WJCI mobilizes the Jewish community to welcome refugees, asylum seekers and other immigrants to communities in Westchester and throughout New York where they can live safely with dignity.
Watch a recording of our latest Community Town Hall on Refugee Resettlement here.
Visit What YOU Can Do for More Information and Upcoming Events
We Stand With Ukraine
Learning What We Can Do
How can we help? That is the question we are most frequently asked. We are told that donating money continues to be the most efficient way to help. Here is a list of some of the humanitarian organizations that we know to be extremely effective and that help all refugees regardless of religion.
USCIS recently launched Uniting for Ukraine, which allows U.S. residents to apply to sponsor Ukrainians seeking refuge in the United States. We are hearing that over 13,000 sponsorship applications have been filed, and around 3,000 of those have been approved so far. When Ukrainian beneficiaries begin arriving in the U.S., members in your community may be seeking resources and/or guidance for supporting newcomers. For more information on the Uniting for Ukraine program, please see Jewish Federations’ updated FAQs here.
Last week, USCIS announced a new rule that increases the automatic extension period for certain Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal applications to 540 days from the previous 180 days. USCIS hopes that this change will help ease the EAD backlog, which is approaching 9-12 months in some cases (as you know). You can read the press release here and find more information on the updated guidance here. The White House requested a roughly $33 billion supplemental aid package that includes additional defense, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The bill also contains a couple of crucial provisions for refugee resettlement, including:
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$1.2 billion in funding to make Ukrainians arriving through the Uniting for Ukraine program eligible for certain benefits, including SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, cash and medical assistance, English language programs, and job training
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An Afghan Adjustment Act that, if passed in its current form, will allow DHS to adjust the status of Afghans paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022 to lawful permanent resident upon meeting certain criteria.
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It’s vital to remember that this legislation has not yet been passed, so anything could happen between now and the time when it may (or may not) reach the President’s desk.
As new details emerge about the Uniting for Ukraine plan, WJCI will continue to provide updates on the ways individuals can help, whether through sponsorship, volunteering, or advocacy.
RABBINIC REFLECTION: A group of NY rabbis recently traveled to the Polish border with UJA-Federation of New York. Check out the recording of the Westchester Rabbi's Reflection from the Polish-Ukraine Border here.
HIAS is on the ground in Ukraine and Poland. Follow its humanitarian work here.
Advocate - Sign HIAS' message to the Administration encouraging it to quickly establish resettlement pathways for Ukrainians with family in the United States.
Read about Right to Protection, a HIAS initiative helping displaced people get access to shelter and food and learn how to take action here.
We engage individuals and communities to welcome the stranger, and protect immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers by concentrating on:
Using an ethics-based framework to mobilize our community to channel obligation into action
Westchester Jewish Coalition for Immigration (WJCI) is a non-partisan organization that envisions the United States as a place where refugees, asylum seekers, and other immigrants can live in safety with dignity.
