Refugee leaders reflect on World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day is a time to honor the strength, resilience, and hope of people who have experienced forced displacement. We stand alongside our neighbors, communities, and partners in affirming the humanity and dignity of every person forced to flee.
However, we mark this day at a difficult moment for refugee and immigrant communities. Over the past year and a half, many families have deeply felt the impact of harmful policies: immigration raids targeting employees at their workplaces, detention of parents picking up their kids from school, and deportations of neighbors who have spent years building relationships and contributing to their communities. Elected leaders have sharpened their rhetoric and advanced anti-immigrant legislation, despite an increasing amount of support across the American public for immigrant communities. This has caused many in our communities to feel less safe, affecting their access to basic services when needed, including healthcare and food assistance. For people who have already survived war and persecution, this often means living through that fear and trauma again.
“As a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I faced fear and uncertainty when leaving my home and starting a new life in the United States. I have also experienced anxiety about today’s political climate and views that sometimes conflict with my personal values, while still adapting to a different culture and rebuilding my future. I overcame these challenges through faith in God, support from my community, and determination to keep moving forward. Every obstacle taught me resilience and gave me the courage to advocate for others facing similar struggles today.”
This year’s World Refugee Day coincides with two significant milestones: the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which codified the definition of a ‘refugee’ and and the responsibility of nations to protect those seeking safety; and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, a nation that has long valued welcoming people in search of safety and a new start. Together, these anniversaries remind us of our long-standing commitments, and an invitation to reflect on how well we’re upholding them today.
“What makes me courageous is the refugee community itself. We do not give up on one another. Generational trauma and the challenges we have faced have not broken us, they have made us stronger. We have learned to turn suffering into strength in order to survive, and we pass that strength, resilience, and hope from one person to another. Seeing people continue to rise after losing so much inspires me every day and reminds me that courage is not about having no fear; it is about continuing to move forward together.”
Protection systems work best when they are accessible and grounded in compassion. Programs like the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, Temporary Protected Status, Humanitarian Parole, and Asylum are proven pathways to safety. Research consistently shows that a majority of Americans across the political spectrum support welcoming policies and safe pathways for our most vulnerable neighbors. We must build on this common ground - not dismantle it.
This World Refugee Day, we honor the stories of refugees, and invite all to join us in our pledge to defend the rights and well-being of all who have been forcibly displaced, and reaffirm our comment to being a nation that welcomes.
“Our path forward begins with caring for our own souls so that we can fully advocate for ourselves, our families, and our communities. When we heal, we rise. When we rise, we create space for others to do the same.”
Reflections from Our Community
In their own words, our Delegates and members reflect on courage, fear, and resilience.
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What makes me courageous is the refugee community itself. We do not give up on one another. Generational trauma and the challenges we have faced have not broken us, they have made us stronger. We have learned to turn suffering into strength in order to survive, and we pass that strength, resilience, and hope from one person to another. Seeing people continue to rise after losing so much inspires me every day and reminds me that courage is not about having no fear; it is about continuing to move forward together.
There have been moments in my life when I felt fear, anxiety, and hesitation, especially during the current administration. It was my first time voting in my life because, growing up, I never had the opportunity to vote. I used to believe that voting or not voting would not change anything because power belonged to those who already had it. I was hopeful and convinced that this administration would create positive changes for people experiencing displacement around the world. I hoped corrupt systems would be cleaned up, global conflicts would reduce, refugee pathways would become more accessible and transparent, and asylum processes would become faster and more effective. That was my hope.
However, I experienced fear as a leader and as someone working directly with refugee and immigrant communities. I stood in courtrooms, police stations, in hospitals and watched people who came seeking safety being pushed back toward unsafe environments. I witnessed refugees avoiding essential services because of fear and uncertainty. I saw how misinformation affected not only the community I serve but also my own mental and emotional wellbeing.
There were moments when I began to hesitate. I stopped attending some advocacy events and even declined invitations because I felt my voice no longer made a difference. I became discouraged and felt disconnected from systems that I thought would create change. I also realized that many of us relied heavily on relationships and friendly support rather than building stronger and more sustainable structures. When some of those relationships changed, many people felt left alone.
But I did not allow fear to become the end of my story. Instead, I decided to focus on what I could control and where I could make a difference. I shifted my attention toward local communities and filling the gaps I was seeing every day. That decision led me to create the U.S. Refugee Integration Organization (URIO), designed to support refugees and immigrants during times and situations when regular services are unavailable. What started from fear and disappointment became purpose and action, and it has accomplished far more than I ever expected. I learned that overcoming fear does not always mean removing it; sometimes it means turning it into something meaningful that helps others.
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The people who make me feel courageous are my family, especially my father, whose strength and perseverance inspired me through difficult times. He always encouraged me never to give up on something I truly care about. Another thing that gives me courage is being a father myself. I want to be present for my children, to be their hero and an example they can follow in life.
As a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I faced fear and uncertainty when leaving my home and starting a new life in the United States. I have also experienced anxiety about today's political climate and views that sometimes conflict with my personal values, while still adapting to a different culture and rebuilding my future. I overcame these challenges through faith in God, support from my community, and determination to keep moving forward. Every obstacle taught me resilience and gave me the courage to advocate for others facing similar struggles today.
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Being a refugee is not a choice. It is a journey filled with uncertainty, loss, and hope. As someone who has experienced displacement, I know the challenges of leaving home behind and starting over in a new place. Yet I also know the power of community, kindness, and opportunity. Today, I remember those who are still seeking safety, those who have lost loved ones, and those who continue to rebuild their lives with dignity and determination.
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As World Refugee Day approaches on June 20, I cannot help but think of the Sudanese women whose courage echoes across generations — the women who carried children through uncertainty, endured separation and loss, and rebuilt fragments of home in unfamiliar places. Their stories are woven into my heart, even when they have gone unseen by the world, and their resilience reminds me what it means to keep moving forward against impossible odds.
Many endured war, displacement, loss, and the challenges of building new lives far from home. Yet they continued to carry their families, preserve their culture, and create hope where little existed. Their strength was not always recognized, but it was always present.
As an immigrant woman in the diaspora, I know I walk in their footsteps. Their resilience carried me here, and their sacrifices continue to guide me.Our path forward begins with caring for our own souls so that we can fully advocate for ourselves, our families, and our communities. When we heal, we rise. When we rise, we create space for others to do the same.
World Refugee Day is one day on the calendar, but my admiration for refugee women lives with me every day.
We don't need permission to rise. Our existence is proof that we are continuing to rise anyway!
