As Pride Month draws to a close, Refugee Congress celebrates the life, dignity and resilience of LGBTQ+ refugees, asylum seekers/asylees and other vulnerable migrants. We recognize that members of our communities who identify as LGBTQ+ may have fled persecution based on their sexual or gender identify, and even as they found some safety in the U.S., they still face discrimination, […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2020 Refugee Congress condemns a new rule announced by the Trump Administration that delays and bans asylum-seekers’ ability to obtain employment authorization. The rule doubles the time asylum-seekers must wait before applying for employment authorization, from 150 to 365 days, and blocks work authorization for many asylum-seekers based on entry or filing requirements. As an […]
Do you know a refugee/former refugee or asylee/asylum seeker who is active in the community and wants to become an even more powerful advocate for refugees/asylees in their state? Refugee Congress seeks nominations of committed refugee and asylee/asylum seeker leaders to serve as the volunteer Delegate to the Refugee Congress for a term of three years. We currently seek to […]
Delegate – Minnesota Country of Origin: Somalia Arrival in the U.S.: 2000 Fartun Weli is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Minnesota. Weli is Executive Director and Founder of Isuroon, a nonprofit with a mission of helping Somali women build self-sufficiency and maintain healthy lives. Isuroon is committed to improving the health and upward mobility of Somali women in Minnesota, the […]
Delegate – Indiana Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo Arrival in the U.S.: 2013 Ally Ntumba is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Indiana. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and arrived in the United States in 2013 after fleeing conflicts and civil war. Ntumba is passionate about helping and working with immigrants and refugees in […]
Delegate – Illinois Country of Origin: Syria Arrival in the U.S.: 2011
Delegate – Illinois Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo Arrival in the U.S.: 2009
Delegate – Alabama Country of Origin: Burundi Arrival in the U.S.: 2017
At Large Representative – Board of Directors Delegate – Wyoming Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo Arrival in the U.S.: 2015 Valerie Bahige is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Wyoming.
Southeast Regional Representative – Board of Directors Delegate – Tennessee Country of Origin: Rwanda Arrival in the U.S.: 2009 Drocella Mugorewera is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Tennessee. Born in Rwanda, Mugorewera was forced to leave as a refugee and came to Tennessee in 2009. She is an enthusiastic and dynamic leader. In Africa, she served in different capacities, including being […]
On June 20 and throughout the month of June, we join together for World Refugee Day to celebrate the contributions of refugees and rally for increased welcome and support for refugees. In the midst of the current COVID-19 crisis, refugees are ensuring the health and well-being of their communities as essential workers such as healthcare professionals, driver, teachers, grocery workers […]
Delegate – Rhode Island Country of Origin: Angola Arrival in the U.S.: 2018
Delegate – New Jersey City of Residence: Elizabeth, New Jersey Country of Origin: Afghanistan Arrival in the U.S.: 2014
Delegate – Maryland City of Residence: Silver Spring Country of Origin: Eritrea Arrival in the U.S.: 2018 Teklit Michael is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Maryland. After spending over a decade advocating for his rights as an asylum seeker in Israel, Michael now resides in Silver Spring, MD. During his 11 years in Tel Aviv, he served the Eritrean community […]