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IINE’s offices close on Tuesday, December 24 at noon and reopen at 9 am on Thursday, January 2. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Author: Jeff Thielman

International Institute of New England (IINE) Statement on Community-Based Resettlement Models

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog.

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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 and supporting refugees. IINE has provided services to immigrants for over 100 years, and always with and through the support of local communities. The Community Sponsorship Hub model takes that support to a new level.

IINE stands ready to meet with any group in the community that forms a Sponsor Circle and to provide support within our capacity. We don’t have many details about how the program will work, but we look forward to learning more as groups form.

IINE and other resettlement agencies offer services that go far beyond the initial 90-day period, and that include orientation, case management, ESOL, education, job training and support, and legal services. Our professional, deeply experienced, and multi-lingual staff work intensely with most individuals and families for at least a year after arrival, and sometimes up to five years. To the extent that Afghan arrivals and other refugees will need all these extended services, we are prepared to partner with Sponsor Circles to ensure that initial resettlement support leads to longer-term service connections and coordination.

IINE is evolving our own refugee resettlement community support model, and we welcome the opportunity to pilot new models that better serve and support refugees in their initial resettlement and integration into U.S. communities. We look forward to working with federal, state, local, and volunteer stakeholders to integrate new sponsoring and receiving communities into the process of U.S. refugee resettlement.

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Youth Goal: Helping young refugees and immigrants discover their potential

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog.

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hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_transform=”none” text_color=”” s2id_autogen17=”” s2id_autogen17_search=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ s2id_autogen18=”” s2id_autogen18_search=”” animation_offset=””]

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 she only knew two other Spanish-speaking kids.

In 2018, Brenda settled in Lowell, MA with her infant son, Liam. She knew that she wanted to work in a medical field, and she had a high school equivalency diploma, but was unsure how to proceed. “I felt clueless when I started: I didn’t know what I was doing or how I was going to do it, or what I was going to need,” she recalls.

Youth Goal at IINE

It was while exploring educational opportunities that Brenda found Youth Goal, an IINE program for 16-24 year-olds who are out of school or looking for a skills certificate program. Youth Goal teaches participants financial literacy, guides them in career exploration, and provides them with case management to support them in reaching their goals.

Brenda attended a Youth Goal session (remote due to COVID) where she received information about potential careers, and had a one-to-one consultation with an IINE case worker who asked her about her goals and developed a plan with her.

“None of my immediate family has ever gone to college,” Brenda says, “So I didn’t know anything about tuition, or FAFSA, or any of that, so I asked a lot of those questions. They walk you through everything. The staff is really good about answering your questions.” She adds, “They’re always there pushing you and making sure you get what you need to succeed.”

Youth Goal helped Brenda gain confidence, and she soon was offered a paid internship in the program, helping other young immigrants learn English. By working with her peers, Brenda is able to better appreciate what she has achieved. “Being an intern and working with people who are where I used to be feels good, because it’s people that want to do better. It’s people that are really interested and really trying to better themselves, so it makes you feel good.”

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant

Brenda as a child in El Salvador.

In April 2021, Brenda joined the CNA for Success program at IINE. This program prepares participants to start a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), at a high-demand point of entry in health care, offering specialized support for English language learners. It includes both certification preparation and clinical training and includes a 100-hour CNA module within its curriculum conducted by instructors from Middlesex Community College. Brenda is already fluent in English, but IINE’s CNA program was an important first step for her toward a career in nursing.

Brenda’s classes include test prep for certification, as well as hands-on work, both in real medical settings and in the classroom.

Optimism about the future

Brenda is hoping to continue her education and become a nurse, ideally working with babies and children. In the meantime, Liam is now three years old and already benefiting from his mother’s example: “He sees that I go to school now, and he’s crazy to go to school. He’s always like, can I go to school yet, I want to go to school, I want a backpack too. It makes me happy to see that even at such a young age, I inspire and encourage him to think of school as a good thing.”[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Welcoming our first Afghan evacuee family to Greater Boston

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

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filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″ type=”legacy”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” hover_type=”none” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” border_radius=”” box_shadow=”no” dimension_box_shadow=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” background_type=”single” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend_mode=”none” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_type=”regular” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″ last=”true” border_sizes_top=”0″ border_sizes_bottom=”0″ border_sizes_left=”0″ border_sizes_right=”0″ first=”true”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” s2id_autogen16=”” s2id_autogen16_search=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_transform=”none” text_color=”” s2id_autogen17=”” s2id_autogen17_search=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ s2id_autogen18=”” s2id_autogen18_search=”” animation_offset=””]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 furnished apartment in Cambridge, which was made available thanks to the generosity of a local landlord and IINE partner, who offered it at a discounted rate.

IINE expects to resettle at least 425 Afghan evacuees in Lowell, Greater Boston, and Manchester, NH over the next 12 months.[/fusion_text][fusion_gallery layout=”” picture_size=”” columns=”” column_spacing=”” gallery_masonry_grid_ratio=”” gallery_masonry_width_double=”” s2id_autogen16=”” s2id_autogen16_search=”” hover_type=”” lightbox=”yes” s2id_autogen17=”” s2id_autogen17_search=”” lightbox_content=”” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” border_radius=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” s2id_autogen18=”” s2id_autogen18_search=”” caption_style=”off” caption_title_color=”” caption_title_size=”” caption_title_tag=”2″ fusion_font_family_caption_title_font=”” fusion_font_variant_caption_title_font=”” caption_title_transform=”” caption_text_color=”” caption_background_color=”” caption_text_size=”” fusion_font_family_caption_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_caption_text_font=”” caption_text_transform=”” caption_border_color=”” caption_overlay_color=”” caption_align_medium=”none” caption_align_small=”none” caption_align=”none” caption_margin_top=”” caption_margin_right=”” caption_margin_bottom=”” caption_margin_left=””][fusion_gallery_image image=”https://iine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/boys-smile-300×200.jpg” image_id=”17094|medium” image_title=”” image_caption=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” /][fusion_gallery_image image=”https://iine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/dad-300×200.jpg” image_id=”17095|medium” image_title=”” image_caption=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” /][fusion_gallery_image image=”https://iine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MEDIA-ADVISORY-whole-family-300×200.jpg” image_id=”17096|medium” image_title=”” image_caption=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” /][fusion_gallery_image image=”https://iine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/robina-and-baby-300×200.jpg” image_id=”17097|medium” image_title=”” image_caption=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” /][fusion_gallery_image image=”https://iine.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/two-children-200×300.jpg” image_id=”17098|medium” image_title=”” image_caption=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” /][/fusion_gallery][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty Act would help refugee families in “deep poverty”

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

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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 50% of the federal poverty level, or $915 a month for a family of three, and would increase financial assistance rates by 20% a year until families reach 50% of the federal poverty level. 

Massachusetts families in poverty rely on benefit payments through the Commonwealth’s Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) program to support basic necessities. Refugee families with children in the Commonwealth are often disproportionately low-income and rely on the Commonwealth’s TAFDC program to support them as they work hard to become self-sufficient. 

For many of the refugee families we serve at IINE, a question we hear too often is, “As I’m building my English skills and looking for work, how do I pay for rent, food, and diapers?” As rental housing costs have risen in the state by 94% over the last five years, TAFDC-level rates have not kept pace and today cover an average of only 38% of the monthly costs of housing, food, and living expenses for a refugee family of three.

The International Institute of New England applauds the MA Legislative Representatives and Senators who are sponsoring Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty legislation.  If enacted, the increased state aid—the first significant increase in nearly two decades—would bring struggling families in the Commonwealth up to what is considered “deep poverty,” or half the federal poverty level. It’s not a living standard to guarantee dignity and erase suffering, but it’s a start.

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Afghan evacuees approved for federal refugee benefits

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

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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 access to healthcare, food stamps, and limited cash assistance. This is promising news, and will ensure that Afghans coming to Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the coming days and weeks can utilize federal benefits to meet their basic needs.

In addition, we were happy to see that the Continuing Resolution requires the Department of Homeland Security to expedite asylum applications for Afghans and makes parolees eligible for driver’s licenses and other government identification.

IINE has been resettling refugees in New England since the 1980s, and we always supplement federal benefits for refugees with services financed with private and state funds. The need for supplemental support is particularly important now because of the high cost and limited supply of housing in our region and because Afghans will need legal assistance to process their asylum claims.

We continue to seek private donations and advocate for state support to ensure that Afghans arriving in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are resettled safely and with dignity.

Finally, we urge the federal government to evacuate American allies still at risk of persecution in Afghanistan and take other steps to ease Afghans’ arrivals in the U.S., including waiving parole application fees and creating a categorical parole program for Afghan nationals.

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Stop Repatriating Haitians Seeking Safety in the U.S.

Stop Repatriating Haitians Seeking Safety in the U.S.

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

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 days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, thousands of Haitian immigrants are encamped at Del Rio, Texas, after entering the U.S. through the Rio Grande.

These expulsions stand in contradiction to promises made by the Biden administration to create a more humane immigration system. And, they are especially cruel in light of back-to-back-to-back disasters in Haiti this summer: in July, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, and in August, a brutal magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed immediately by a powerful hurricane. Forcing people to return under these circumstances puts their lives in danger, and cannot be justified.

The International Institute of New England (IINE) urges the Biden administration to halt these deportations immediately, and work with national resettlement agencies to develop a plan for Haitian migrants at the southern border.

Jeff Thielman, President and CEO of IINE states: “The tragedy is that the 200 resettlement agencies across the U.S., working with federal officials, could find a way to safely resettle many of the people on the border right now. The Biden administration has not consulted national resettlement agencies on how to approach the Haitian crisis. This is in contrast to the situation involving Afghan evacuees. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and other agencies are in regular contact with the U.S. State Department about how to resettle Afghans. We could be doing the same thing for the Haitian population.”

New England has been welcoming Haitian immigrants since the 1950s, and IINE has served many Haitian clients for decades through resettlement, case management, ESOL, skills training, and other services. We hope that we will have the opportunity to help the current wave of migrants find safety and stability, and join the vibrant multigenerational Haitian community here in the northeast.

Refugee Cap Raised to 125,000

Refugee Cap Raised to 125,000

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Advocacy, Afghan Refugees, Blog, In The News, Press Releases/Statements, Refugee Resettlement.

Many refugees coming to the U.S. seek to join family members, and most have spent years waiting to settle in a new country. Refugees overcome many obstacles to come to the U.S., and every individual we’ve met over the years has tremendous grit and determination that only make our country better.

While we are pleased with the promise of more refugee arrivals in the coming twelve months, we strongly urge the President and Congress to provide enough funding and staff for the Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. agencies to process 125,000 people who will be entering our country as refugees. The promise of a higher number of refugees entering our country gives many people around the world hope, but we will let them down if we don’t have the funds to deliver on this commitment. Refugees arrive with many burdens and few resources, and they need many essential services to adjust to a new culture, begin to recover from trauma, and become self-supporting in a new country.

While IINE praises the Biden administration’s plans to resettle more refugees, we are focused on preparing to resettle hundreds of people evacuated by the U.S. government from Afghanistan last month. We urge Congress to adopt legislation that gives Afghan evacuees asylum, access to public benefits, and a path to citizenship. Many of the Afghans who fled their country last month supported our military and civilian personnel, and now it is our turn to support them.

A Tribute to Newell Flather, Philanthropic Leader

A Tribute to Newell Flather, Philanthropic Leader

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Lowell.

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 England, including the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

Newell grew up in Lowell within a family with a deep tradition of valuing immigrants. In 1961, he was in the first group of individuals to join the Peace Corps, teaching high school in Ghana. Later, among his many charitable offices, he served as president of the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation, whose mission is to make effective grants that broadly benefit the City of Lowell and the diversity of its residents. The foundation’s board president observed, “Newell’s life has been one of engaging with other cultures.”

IINE honored Newell Flather as a “Revitalization Leader” at our Lowell 100 event in 2019, and under Newell’s leadership, the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation has generously supported the International Institute of New England (IINE) and many other organizations in Lowell. “Newell brought profound insight and passion about how to invest in Lowell and its people,” said Jeff Thielman, IINE’s President and CEO. “On a personal level, he was a good friend and mentor.”

IINE is grateful for Newell’s many contributions to Lowell, and we send our sincerest sympathies to his family.

Afghanistan: A Need For a Broader Response

Afghanistan: A Need For a Broader Response

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

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 beginning to arrive in the U.S., the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has suggested that 500,000 more refugees are likely to flee Afghanistan to neighboring countries by the end of 2021. Based on multiple reports, thousands of Afghans who are eligible for immigration benefits in the U.S. will be left behind after the August 31, 2021 deadline. 

The International Institute of New England (IINE) urges government leaders to take the following steps to address the continuing crisis in Afghanistan and to help those seeking protection in the United States:

  1. After August 31, 2021, we demand that the Biden administration ensures safe passage out of Afghanistan for all Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) and P-2 refugee status (people who served the U.S. government but did not meet all SIV requirements). 
  2. We call on the Biden administration to expedite petitions by U.S. citizens, green card holders, and refugees living in the U.S. to have their loved ones in Afghanistan join them here. 
  3. We urge Congress to pass legislation to allow the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to provide public benefits to Afghan evacuees, regardless of immigration status. Many Afghans arriving in the U.S. are categorized as humanitarian parolees and are not eligible for public assistance.
  4. IINE urges the state governments of Massachusetts and New Hampshire to make funds available to resettlement agencies so that we may provide direct financial assistance to Afghans arriving in the U.S. who are not eligible for public support. 
  5. Finally, we urge the U.S. and other nations to come together to support the growing number of Afghan refugees throughout the world. 

Despite great uncertainty and insufficient public funding, IINE stands ready to resettle Afghans safely and with dignity in our region in the coming weeks and months. We are honored to do this work with your support. 

We Stand With the People of Haiti

We Stand With the People of Haiti

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

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 friends who have been directly impacted. The International Institute of New England (IINE) stands with them, and with all the people of Haiti. We urge the Biden Administration to stop deportations to Haiti immediately and to expand TPS eligibility to include Haitians who entered the United States after August 3, 2021.

In order to support the urgent response to the earthquake, IINE suggests donations to the following organizations who are immediately responding to the crisis:

Haiti Development Institute

Health Equity International

Partners in Health

UNICEF

A Moral Imperative: Stand Behind Our Allies in Afghanistan

A Moral Imperative: Stand Behind Our Allies in Afghanistan

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

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 and safely evacuate and welcome all individuals who are eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) or Priority 2 (P-2) Refugee status immediately.

The following is a statement by Jeff Thielman, president and CEO, International Institute of New England – an organization that welcomes Afghan allies through the SIV and P-2 Refugee programs:

“We must evacuate our Afghan allies now to the U.S or a U.S. territory. Currently, there are almost 88,000 allies and family members in the Special Visa Application process who are in grave danger. These at-risk Afghans supported US troops for more than 20 years. The U.S. has the capacity and the moral responsibility to bring our allies out now.

In addition to our allies being processed through the SIV program, we must prioritize processing for eligible Afghans and their families through the P-2 Refugee program and ensure our allies in Afghanistan are safely evacuated and timely processed.”

In Defense of DACA

In Defense of DACA

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

On July 16th, a federal District Court judge in Texas halted new applicants to DACA or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The ruling does not affect the more than 600,000 young people currently protected by DACA. In the written ruling, the judge said DACA is unlawful because the federal government violated the Administrative Procedure Act in 2012 by not following an appropriate “notice and comment” process.

One fact is clear, this ruling leaves 81,000 current applicants for DACA relief in limbo and further underscores the need for Congress to adopt legislation to protect DACA-eligible young people living in the United States. Currently, DACA recipients do not have a pathway to citizenship and live in constant fear of being torn from their families, communities, schools, jobs, and the only country they have ever known.

The International Institute of New England urges Congress to adopt common-sense legislation to protect the nation’s DACA recipients or DREAMers. IINE has served and employed DREAMers for many years. They are our friends and neighbors. They have worked in many frontline positions during the pandemic. Some have served in the U.S. military, many are students, and a growing number are parents of U.S. citizens.  DREAMers are Americans in every way, except on paper.

According to a Pew Research survey conducted in June of 2020, 74% of Americans support legislation protecting DREAMers. And, various studies show that deporting DREAMers would harm the economy, destroy families, reduce tax revenues, and cost the government billions of dollars.

The American Promise and Dream Act, which would provide conditional permanent resident status for several categories of immigrants, including DREAMers, has passed the U.S. of Representatives twice, and is awaiting Senate approval. In addition, a bipartisan bill in the Senate introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC), known as the Dream Act of 2021 establishes a path to citizenship for some DACA recipients and other undocumented immigrants.

We urge Congress to listen to the American people and to do the right thing by passing legislation to protect young people who came here through no choice of their own and who are contributing to communities in every state across the country.