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Tag: Policy statement

IINE Statement on the Fatal Shooting of a U.S. Citizen by ICE in Minneapolis

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Advocacy, Blog, Press Releases/Statements.

The fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on January 7 is a tragedy and the most dire outcome of unchecked authority.  

ICE continues to operate outside the bounds of law, and in doing so, creates immense fear and danger in our communities. We hear from our refugee and immigrant clients every week that they are afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or attend doctors’ appointments. Last year, our organization provided support to more than 12,000 new arrivals. These are brave, resilient individuals who endured difficult journeys to come to the U.S. through legal pathways. They willingly provided their information to the U.S. government and have done everything they can to both comply with our nation’s increasingly complex immigration laws and to become contributing members of our communities. Yet ICE’s actions make clear that this does not guarantee their safety or fair treatment.  

ICE’s actions also erode the very trust our organization, our communities, and our local police work to build with newcomers. As part of cultural orientation, we teach new arrivals about U.S. laws and the important role of the officials who have been sworn to uphold them. Now, these lessons ring hollow as the federal government continues to target refugees and immigrants and those who welcome and support them. Furthermore, ICE’s violent act undermines the very principles of justice and due process that define our nation. 

We call on our leaders to hold those responsible for this tragedy accountable, restore trust in our institutions, and ensure that all members of our communities are treated with dignity and fairness.  

IINE Statement on the Tragic Shooting of National Guard Members in Washington, DC

IINE Statement on the Tragic Shooting of National Guard Members in Washington, DC

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Advocacy, Blog, Press Releases/Statements.

The International Institute of New England (IINE) is saddened by the tragic shooting of two members of the West Virginia National Guard in Washington, D.C., on November 26, 2025. We mourn the passing of a young member of the Guard who volunteered to protect and defend her country. The individual who committed this heinous act must be held accountable for their actions.  

IINE remains committed to partnering with political leaders to safely welcome immigrants and refugees to our country. We urge leaders and community members to denounce all hate-filled attacks on people because of their race, religion, or national origin, and to advocate for sound, effective procedures that ensure those who come to the U.S. meet the comprehensive requirements of our refugee and asylee laws.  

Throughout the past four years and even before that, IINE and other resettlement agencies across the country have welcomed and supported Afghan nationals, including many who were allies to our government during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. These allies and their families are among some of the most heavily vetted immigrants to come to the U.S. We have seen them fill jobs in industries short on labor, learn English, take active roles in civic and faith groups across the country, and, in many cases, become U.S. citizens. They have become our neighbors, co-workers, and friends. 

In response to the tragic shooting, the federal government has chosen to initiate vague vetting policies, which give U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials the discretion to deny individuals a Green Card or Lawful Permanent Resident status because of their country of origin. Rather than making our nation safer for all, this response creates fear and division, weakens due process, and wrongly uses this senseless tragedy to further a xenophobic agenda. It dishonors not only those who lawfully seek to enter our country in search of a better life but also those brave men and women who voluntarily join our armed services to protect us all. It makes us neither more safe nor more free. 

The Call for a Humane and Strategic Refugee Program in 2026

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Advocacy, Blog, FEATURED, Press Releases/Statements, Refugee Resettlement.

UPDATE AS OF 10/31/25 

The Presidential Determination on refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2026 has been set at 7,500 people, the lowest ceiling in the history of a program that has enjoyed broad bipartisan support for more than four decades. This number is only a fraction of past refugee admission ceilings and was set without consulting with Congress, as required by law. It also fails to meet the urgency of today’s global displacement crisis. At the end of 2024, there was an estimated 123.2 million forcibly displaced people worldwide—families and individuals who have lost their homes and safety due to persecution, conflict, and natural disasters. The United States has been the world leader in receiving refugees, and throughout the past four decades Americans have witnessed refugees fill needed jobs, start businesses, raise families, run for office, and add tremendous value to American society.  

We implore the administration to open refugee admissions to people fleeing crises in Sudan, Myanmar, Venezuela, and other nations, including Afghanistan. Thousands of Afghan war allies, who supported our government and troops, are waiting to come here, and our nation owes them the opportunity to do so. 

As we respond to this disappointing determination, IINE and many of our peer organizations are navigating the loss of SNAP eligibility for refugees and immigrants with legal statuses under the federal policy changes enacted by the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Instead of further destabilizing vulnerable populations, the United States should seek to build systems that are fair, humane, and representative of the values our nation has held dear since its founding.  

Six days into the new federal fiscal year, the administration has not yet consulted with Congress or released the annual Presidential Determination for refugee admissions, a requirement of the Refugee Act of 1980. This delay coincides with reports that the administration is preparing to significantly alter U.S. refugee policy.  

We are hearing that the administration intends to cut refugee admissions to 7,500 people—the lowest ceiling in U.S. history, a small fraction of the 120,000 goal set by the UN High Commision for Refugees for the international community, and a mere 6% of our country’s 2025 target of 125,000 refugees. In addition, during remarks delivered at a panel entitled “The Global Refugee and Asylum System: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It,” the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State outlined the administration’s intent to “reframe” refugee status so it becomes “temporary, not permanent,” and that “the understanding is you should go back to your country.”   

These proposed changes to federal policy fundamentally misrepresent what it means to be a refugee and fail to advance humane, effective solutions to displacement. Federal law and treaties signed by the U.S. government define refugees as individuals who are unable or unwilling to return to their home countries because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. The U.S. has a rigorous, multi-year vetting process to confirm this status. The goal of resettlement is to help these individuals find a durable solution and rebuild their lives peacefully and without the risk of further displacement.  

If we abandon our identity as the world’s leader in refugee resettlement, we will put real lives at risk. When the federal administration suspended the refugee program on January 20th, it left more than a hundred thousand refugees stranded overseas—despite having completed extensive vetting and already being approved for resettlement. Today, many are still waiting in refugee camps in dire conditions, desperate for the chance to rebuild their lives in safety, and in many cases, reunite with family members they have not seen for years. 

Through decades of evidence-based practice, refugee resettlement agencies like IINE have effectively partnered with federal and local governments, employers, schools, healthcare providers, and community members. This collaborative effort helps new arrivals integrate and thrive. The initial, modest investments made by public and private partners more than pay off: refugees join the U.S. workforce, contribute to the local, state, and federal tax base, purchase homes, and start businesses at a higher rate that U.S.-born residents. They shape our culture, traditions, and society in countless ways.  

Ensuring our nation continues to welcome families and individuals in need of safety is both the smart and the right thing to do. The United States has been a haven for the persecuted since the founding of the nation, and for decades, the U.S. refugee resettlement system has functioned effectively with wide bipartisan support. Welcoming refugees reflects the best of our nation’s core values – equal treatment, non-discrimination, and human dignity – making it as vital to our national identity as it is to the refugees who find a home here.  

IINE Statement on the Travel Ban

IINE Statement on the Travel Ban

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Advocacy, Afghan Refugees, Blog, Haitian Immigrants, Press Releases/Statements.

The recently enacted travel ban will divide families, endanger the lives of those seeking safety in the U.S., and forsake our nation’s humanitarian legacy. The ban is predicated on the claim that the selected ountries have a “large-scale presence of terrorists,” when in reality, the individuals seeking to leave these nations are doing so to save their lives and their families. 

The International Institute of New England condemns this ban, which is another attempt to dismantle legal pathways to immigration and villainize innocent individuals and families seeking safety and stability.  

More than 90% of IINE’s current clients come from nations included in the travel ban, particularly Haiti and Afghanistan. These immigrants have endured rigorous vetting and screening, long journeys, and unimaginable trauma to find peace and safety in the U.S. The travel ban will cause irreparable human harm and hurt U.S. communities – who rely heavily on their talent and economic and cultural contributions.  

Talent like Efdjeen, who was forced to leave her home in Haiti, where she was completing her residency after graduating from medical school. Efdjeen always aspired to become a doctor, and last year, she graduated from IINE’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, bringing her one step closer to her goal.  

The ban also means separating families, who have already spent years apart and want nothing more than to be reunited. 

Many from the countries banned are our friends, neighbors, and in the case of Afghanistan, brothers and sisters in arms. When the Taliban took control of Kabul, Sabira and her husband had to flee because of his past work supporting the U.S. Armed Forces; now, they are in Massachusetts alone, dreaming of the day when they will see their families again.  

The devastation the travel ban will cause is immense. We hope the ban will be successfully challenged in court, and ultimately lead to further action around the need for comprehensive immigration reform. 

IINE Statement on the Termination of TPS for Afghanistan

IINE Statement on the Termination of TPS for Afghanistan

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Advocacy, Afghan Refugees, Blog, Press Releases/Statements.

The termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans is based on the claim that conditions in Afghanistan have improved, but the Taliban’s continued control of the nation contradicts this assessment. Human rights violations have only worsened, with women and girls at heightened risk of facing gender-based violence, in addition to thousands of disappearances, arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial executions, attacks on freedom of expression, and the near collapse of their health system. Sending people who have fought alongside us, sought safety in the U.S., and would likely face retribution upon return to a country in crisis would be a complete reversal of our nation’s long-held values of refuge and humanitarian relief.  

IINE has a long history of welcoming and supporting Afghans from the early 2000’s to today. After the fall of Kabul, our communities stepped up and opened our doors because it was the right thing to do. Thousands of Afghans left their homes behind, and in some cases their families, to ensure their safety, including our allies who aided American troops during the war. These brave and resilient individuals have become our neighbors, colleagues, and friends – like Nazia. An English teacher in Afghanistan, Nazia fled after receiving death threats from the Taliban for daring to educate women and girls. Today, Nazia continues to teach English in the Boston-area and hopes to pursue her masters. These are the kind of people we would be turning our backs on.  

We must stand by our commitment to welcoming those in need, and we can do so. By passing the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA), Congress could allow Afghans to apply for green cards and set them on a pathway to becoming permanent citizens. It would mean that thousands of Afghans will be able to reunite with their families, and together, remain safely in the U.S. – a country they have come to call home.  

This Thanksgiving, Make Room for Everyone at the Table

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog.

The election is over, ballots have been counted, and the results are in: This Thanksgiving, families may see a far bigger divide than who prefers dark meat over light meat. While Thanksgiving is meant to be a time to gather for a feast with your loved ones and even welcome new guests to the table, the sad truth is that many people may be crossing guests off their invitation list this year.

America is a nation of immigrants, and what holiday says this more than Thanksgiving, an “immigrant’s holiday, blending old and new traditions.” In 2014, President Obama addressed an audience of new U.S. citizens at the White House on this issue:

“America is, and always has been, a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history immigrants have come to our shores in wave after wave from every corner of the globe,” he said. “Every one of us, unless we are Native American, has an ancestor who was born somewhere else.

President Obama’s point was that if there isn’t room for anything at the table, its intolerance of the “other.” We are all the “other.”

This election cycle was particularly difficult for the American public, especially on the topic of immigration reform. The polls show our country is more split than many thought, exposing deep rooted divisions. Since the Presidential election a mere two weeks ago, the country has witnessed violent protests and demonstrations, acts of vandalism, hate crimes, and public outcries of sadness and despair. Above all, the results have invoked fear, notably among refugees and immigrant

For others who find themselves without a space at another’s table, they will find good food, company, and perhaps even some solace at holiday celebrations hosted by community institutions such as churches and resettlement institutes. For example, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) welcomed hundreds of refugees and immigrants with open arms to their 12th annual Thanksgiving luncheon on November 15, 2016 at the State House in Boston. Speaking on the behalf of Mayor Martin Walsh, Director of the Office for Immigrant Advancement Alexandra St. Guillen stated,

“If you live in or around Boston, know that you are a valued member of our city and our community regardless of your place of birth, your immigration status, your faith tradition, or your appearance.

This past Monday, the International Institute’s Lowell office also hosted their annual “Taste of Thanksgiving” event, where over 50 refugees who are enrolled in the IINE-Lowell’s English as a Second Language (ESL) class celebrated their first Thanksgiving. Volunteers from the Resettle Together network prepared the food and joined in the feast, during which refugees described what they were most thankful for during this time. Resettle Together is a growing network of community partners assisting the International Institute of New England in creating welcoming communities for refugees and providing immediate and long-term support to individuals and families.

Refugees and immigrants in the United States have never needed help, support, and reassurance as much as they do now. For organizations like IINE and MIRA, the election results do not change our commitment and mission to provide all of the support we can to welcome new arrivals, and to assist immigrants and refugees to become productive members of our communities. We believe this nation is exceptional due to its embrace of everyone who cherishes freedom and equality. Sadly, for many new Americans their first holiday in the United States will include a post-turkey tryptophan coma, served with a steaming hot plate of bigotry.

So, as we are surrounded by fearful rhetoric we have to make a choice. We have to choose love over hate and we have to choose unity over separation.

This Thanksgiving Holiday, let’s choose make room for everyone at the table.

Statement on Anticipated Executive Order on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Press Releases/Statements, Refugee Resettlement.

We are disappointed by reports of the President’s anticipated decision to suspend the United States refugee resettlement program for 120 days, to discontinue issuing visas to people from Syria and other predominately-Muslim countries, and to reduce the number of refugees who will enter the country from 110,000 to 50,000 this fiscal year.

Suspending a humanitarian program that serves vulnerable refugees fleeing war and violence does not make America great or safe. Of all immigrants, refugees are the most vetted and the most in need of protection. We are particularly distressed that those who have suffered trauma and persecution, including children enroute to the U.S., may not be able to join their families here.

The anticipated executive order signals that the U.S. Government is walking away from its responsibility to lead as the world wrestles with the largest refugee crisis since the end of World War II. Refugees and their families are our neighbors, and just like you and me work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to the cultural, economic, and civic life of New England and beyond.

It is important that people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire speak against this action not just because it is contrary to the founding values of this country, but because it will tangibly affect the economic prosperity of our region. As New England’s workforce ages, businesses will increasingly rely on new Americans to grow. Quite simply, the U.S. resettlement program helps American communities become better places to work and live.

The work of the International Institute of New England will not stop. We remain committed to welcoming and supporting newly-arrived refugees as soon as the suspension ends. In the meantime, we will continue to serve the refugee women, men, and children we have resettled during the past year and to offer skills training, English language instruction, and other programming to immigrants of all backgrounds. At this critical time for new Americans, we remain focused on helping them find stability and achieve success in our shared communities.

Jeff Thielman
President and CEO

Our Mission Continues

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog.

President Trump’s executive order suspending the refugee resettlement program, placing an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, and halting the issuance of visas to people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, is an affront to our nation’s values and our Constitution. It is also a direct attack on the mission of the International Institute of New England.

The President is playing on fear. Because we work with people who have overcome so much to get here, we do not give in to fear. No executive order will stop the Institute from serving refugees and immigrants.

We are the largest refugee resettlement program in Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, and we know better than anyone that the people we serve from around the world come here seeking peace. Refugees and their families are our neighbors. They work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to the cultural, economic, and civic life of New England and beyond.

The President’s order does not make America safe or great. Rather, it signals that the United States is retreating from its responsibility to lead as the world wrestles with the largest refugee crisis since the end of World War II.

The International Institute will continue to provide critical services to the more than 625 refugees currently in our care, and with your help, we will be ready to receive new refugees when the program restarts. Our skills training, English language, and job placement programs for refugees and immigrants will continue to thrive and grow as well.

We urge our friends and neighbors to speak out against this action. We ask you to support us in any way you can.

We also ask you to learn more about us by reading about our work in The New York Times, CNN, public radio, The Boston Globe, and other outlets. To read full media stories, please visit the Institute’s Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.

Thank you for your support of our clients and mission during this critical time.

Gratefully,

Jeff Thielman
President and CEO

IINE CEO Jeff Thielman’s response to U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the President’s Travel Ban

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Press Releases/Statements.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Monday means prolonged suffering for many refugees approved by the U.S. government to find haven in America. Sadly, people who have suffered trauma, lived in camps for years, and followed all the rules of the U.S. refugee processing system will either not be able to enter for at least another 120 days or have to restart the entire process.  Our staff at the International Institute of New England was preparing to welcome and resettle some of these refugees in Boston, Lowell, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

The Court’s Ruling

The Supreme Court narrowed but did not overturn lower court decisions stopping parts of President Trump’s Executive Order, which sought to ban visa holders from six predominantly Muslim countries from coming to the U.S. for 90 days and suspend the Refugee Resettlement Program for 120 days.  The Court did not rule yesterday as to whether the Executive Orders were constitutional or otherwise illegal.  Instead, the Supreme Court said the government may ban refugees and other visa holders with no ties to people or entities in the United States from coming to our country while it rules on the merits of the case.  The Court will hear the case in October and rule by the end of 2017.  By then, it is quite possible that many matters raised in the appeal will be moot because the bans will have taken place and a new fiscal year will be underway.

The Court said that some people, including refugees, may come to the U.S. if they have a “bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”  The Court said this includes people with close family relationships in the U.S., students admitted to a U.S. university, workers who have accepted jobs here, and lecturers invited to speak to U.S. audiences.  The dissenters to the unsigned ruling said this compromise will create a lot of litigation because the courts will have to sort out what “bona fide relationships” means. They are probably right.

The Court stated that the U.S. may admit more than 50,000 refugees in FY17, the ceiling set by President Trump in his Executive Orders. The criteria for admission of refugees for the next 120 days, however, is that they must have a legitimate connection to persons or entities in the United States.

Resettlement Nationally and Locally at IINE

The United States has resettled nearly 49,000 refugees as of today, and because of the Court’s ruling, the country will resettle more than 50,000 refugees by September 30.

By the end of this week (June 30), the International Institute of New England expects to have resettled 402 refugees in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with three months remaining in the fiscal year.  Our original target was 623 refugees (we budgeted for 590) by September 30. It is unlikely that we will reach that target.

Special Interest Visa holders (SIVs) and any refugee with family and personal connections to anyone living in the U.S. will be able to come to Boston, Lowell, or Manchester.  We expect to see primarily U.S. “tie” cases between now and September 30.

We are just three months away from a new fiscal year, and by law, President Trump must issue a determination letter on or before October 1, indicating how many refugees the country will admit in FY18.

Earlier this month I was in Washington, DC with leaders of resettlement agencies around the country lobbying members of Congress to urge the President to admit 75,000 refugees.  We will know in a few months how many refugees our agency will serve in the coming fiscal year.  The number of refugees we contract for impacts our budget, planning, and programs for FY18 (which begins for us on October 1, 2017).

Next Steps

Our work will continue, and our job remains to keep serving the people in our care.

We will help every refugee assigned to us and expand our efforts to serve a broad range of early status immigrants in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We just received word that IINE-Manchester will receive a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant from the state of New Hampshire to expand English, Skills Training and Civics Training programs. We will look for other ways to expand programs for new Americans in our three sites.

While there is some sadness in yesterday’s ruling for us and for many of our clients, we are not discouraged. The International Institute has been serving new Americans since 1919; this is the not the first time we have confronted anti-refugee and anti-immigrant feelings. Our clients need IINE to continue to support them in all the ways we have promised; and we rely on the support of our volunteers, donors, and community partners to continue to do so.

There is a lot of work to do, and it is important that we do it well, especially now.