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Immigration in the News
A New York Times
editorial published June 3 urges reconsideration of law enforcement
responses to illegal immigration and a calming of "the great
immigration panic" of this decade. Click here to read the editorial.
Virginia
and Maryland immigration advocates and officials are seeking millions
of dollars to establish naturalization support centers. Click here for the complete article in The Washington Post.
Here's an interesting article from The Virginian-Pilot
about the thousands of foreign students who have been hired by
Virginia businesses for the summer season through the J-1 visa program.
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Refugee and Immigration Services of the Catholic
Diocese of Richmond
1512 Willow Lawn Drive
Suite A
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 355-4559
www.risva.org
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World Refugee Day - Special Collection on June 21 and 22
In
honor of World Refugee Day on June 20, Bishop DiLorenzo has called for
an optional Second Collection to be held in support of RIS in select
Catholic parishes around Richmond during masses held on Saturday, June
21, and Sunday, June 22.
The money raised through this collection will go directly to support Richmond RIS.
Since
this time last year, the three RIS branches statewide have resettled
417 refugees. Approximately 70% of refugees resettled in the Richmond
diocese during that time were Burmese, about 20% were Burundian and 10%
were Iraqi.
Newly arriving refugees are met at the airport by
RIS staff; are provided furnished housing, food, clothing and other
basics; and receive orientation in their native language. RIS-provided
case management, translation and interpretation services ensure that
appropriate papers are secured, medical problems are addressed,
children are enrolled in school and refugees are employed within three
months of arrival.
For just one example of the refugee experience and the work RIS does, click here for a story in the latest issue of The Catholic Virginian about an Afghani refugee assisted by the RIS office in Hampton.
Many
more arrivals are expected this summer, so your support will - as
always - be greatly appreciated. If you'd prefer to make a donation
separately, visit our website and click on Contributions.
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Free Film Screening - All Are Welcome! 
The film, "God Grew Tired of Us," will be shown at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, July
19, at Trinity Baptist Church in Richmond's Northside. Click here for directions.
Admission is free of charge and all are welcome to attend; there will be plenty of
seats for a large audience. A reception and light refreshments will be provided by the Commonwealth chapter of The Links, Inc.
The event will also feature a dynamic live performance of a group of singers from the African nation of Burundi. These performers live in Richmond, having come to America as refugees themselves.
This film about the journey to safety of three so-called "Lost
Boys" from the African nation of Sudan brings attention to how refugees
from all over the world escape war and genocide in their native lands
to build a new life in America.
The
three Sudanese "Lost Boys" in the film are shown overcoming huge
difficulties in their quest to move to the U.S., and once here, they
strive to integrate into the American world while remembering their
homeland and the struggles of those still there. At the 2006 Sundance
Film Festival, "God Grew Tired Of Us" won the Grand Jury Prize and the
Audience Award.
Sponsors of the event are the State Newcomer Health Program of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH); Trinity Baptist Church; and Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS).
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Americorps Volunteer Opportunity
Interested
in touching lives? Nothing is more interesting than working with
refugees from across the world right here in our community. VISTA
(Volunteers in Service to America) has a position at Refugee and
Immigration Services that needs your talent. It's a full-time position
that will involve working with refugees and immigrants and volunteers
to extend the services of our agency.
For information call 540-342-7561 in Roanoke or 804-355-4559 in Richmond.
Visit VISTA and our website below to understand the program better. Spend a year in service and come to know the world better!
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Richmond RIS Receives Budget Allocation from City Council
In a meeting on May 5th, Richmond City Council allocated $25,000 to Richmond RIS from the 2008 City budget.
This
funding will help RIS expand neighborhood-based ESL instruction in
Richmond City, assist in truancy follow-up with non-English speaking
families, and provide language interpretation to non-City of
Richmond-funded service providers serving Richmond City residents.
This
financial investment from the City of Richmond is their first
contribution to RIS since our inception. We are grateful for their
partnership and are looking forward to securing a similar investment
from the counties of Henrico and Chesterfield. With the support of our
local government, RIS will be able to continue our critical work in
improving the lives of those most vulnerable within our communities.
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