International Institute of New England (IINE) Statement on Community-Based Resettlement Models
The International Institute of New England (IINE) commends the U.S. Department of State’s commitment to quickly welcome and resettle evacuees from Afghanistan into U.S. communities. We are excited about the possibilities of new resettlement models that engage community groups across the country in receiving [...]
Youth Goal: Helping young refugees and immigrants discover their potential
Brenda with her son Liam. Brenda, now 24, came to the U.S. from El Salvador when she was just eight years old. Her family initially settled in Alaska, and her first year was difficult: it wasn’t easy for her to learn English, and [...]
Welcoming our first Afghan evacuee family to Greater Boston
On October 13th, the International Institute of New England (IINE) welcomed our first Afghan evacuee clients at Logan Airport in Boston. Abdulmuqsad Waziri, his wife Robina, and their four small children were greeted by IINE staff and accompanied to a secured and [...]
Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty Act would help refugee families in “deep poverty”
Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty, a set of bills being introduced by Representative Marjorie Decker and Senator Sal DiDomenico, would provide financial assistance to Massachusetts families with children living in poverty. The bills are targeted at families who are below [...]
Afghan evacuees approved for federal refugee benefits
The International Institute of New England (IINE) is pleased with the passage of the Continuing Resolution on Thursday, September 30, 2021 authorizing Afghan humanitarian parolees to receive refugee resettlement benefits. These much-needed benefits will include reception and placement services, and [...]
Stop repatriating Haitians seeking safety in the U.S.
On Wednesday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expelled 86 Haitian nationals from the U.S., and flew them back to Haiti. These migrants were expelled under Title 42, a policy created under the Trump administration to speed deportations in the early [...]
Refugee cap raised to 125,000
The International Institute of New England applauds President Biden’s plans to increase the cap on the number of refugees who can enter the U.S. from 62,500 to 125,000 starting on October 1. There are 26.4 million refugees around the world, and [...]
A Tribute to Newell Flather, Philanthropic Leader
Newell Flather, an impactful philanthropist and a steadfast friend to Lowell’s immigrant community, died last week. Newell was the founder of GMA Foundations, and he was also widely recognized for his early work in creating new community foundations throughout New [...]
Afghanistan: A need for a broader response
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has brought together a coalition of advocates, organizations, and nations helping Afghans seek safety, including the U.S. military, which has evacuated more than 120,000 people in the past two weeks. While thousands of Afghans are [...]
American Heroes
Afghans and U.S. citizens who have been evacuated from Afghanistan in the past few weeks owe their lives to the heroic efforts of U.S. troops guarding Hamid Karzai International Airport. The International of New England (IINE) is grateful to U.S. [...]
We Stand with the People of Haiti
On August 14, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near southern Haiti. The loss of life and injuries have been large, amplifying the already growing economic and political devastation in the country. Many of our colleagues and clients have family and [...]
A Moral Imperative: Stand Behind Our Allies in Afghanistan
While the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense are currently evacuating embassy staff and U.S. nationals from Kabul, Afghanistan after the fall of the city to the Taliban, the International Institute of New England strongly encourages the Biden administration to support our Afghan allies [...]