Good morning, and welcome to the Lab Brief.

Through these final moments of 2023, many of us are working tirelessly to preserve access to asylum, reduce barriers for people already here, and prepare for what we know will be a challenging year to come.

This critical moment serves to underscore why the Lab was created – to build support, add capacity, and strengthen the movement to ensure the United States welcomes people seeking safety. The work our partners are doing around the country is more important now than ever. As we prepare to continue this work into 2024, we’d like to take some time to reflect on all we have been able to achieve in 2023 to remind us that we can reach our goals, especially when we work together.

Let’s take a closer look.

Lab Highlights

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW 2024 STATE PARTNERSHIPS

The Lab is proud to work closely with diverse partners on the ground in key states to advance policies and programs that reduce barriers and deepen opportunities for refugees and other newcomers to thrive. In 2024, we are excited to continue this work in four new states.

We will be working in partnership with Center for Victims of Torture in Minnesota, World Relief in North Carolina, Vibrant Ohio in Ohio, and Church World Service in Pennsylvania. We are also continuing our work in Georgia, Michigan, Oregon and Virginia.

#LETASYLUMSEEKERSWORK CAMPAIGN

The Refugee Advocacy Lab joined 50+ local and national organizations to launch the #LetAsylumSeekersWork campaign. This campaign brings together business leaders, faith leaders, state and local elected officials, people seeking asylum, and community leaders across the

country to urge members of Congress to pass the bipartisan House Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (ASWAA), which would allow asylum seekers in the United States to access work permits five months sooner. Since launching, we’ve seen more than 1,000 people take action, reaching members of Congress from 44 states and Washington, DC. We hope you will join us.

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PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND ASYLUM

The Lab partnered with Data for Progress to release two public opinion polls. Our findings could not be more relevant today.

Americans support access to asylum at the border

The majority of likely voters across the United States support access to asylum at the southern border by a margin of +20 percent. As the fight to preserve the right to seek asylum continues, this polling underscores that Americans believe people seeking safety should have the ability to do so at our border. Tell your members of Congress that they cannot trade away this right.

Voters strongly support the U.S. refugee program

Likely voters across the political spectrum, race, religion and age strongly support the United States refugee resettlement program. While 71 percent believe the U.S. should have a resettlement program, that share jumps to 87 percent if someone personally knows a refugee. This is also true for Independents and Republicans, whose support for the refugee resettlement program climbs by at least 20 points if they know a refugee.

RESOURCES

Building Sponsorship Infrastructure in States

The Lab, the International Refugee Assistance Project, Welcome.US, and Community Sponsorship Hub released a new report that elevates best practices, highlights key challenges, and shares recommendations on how the U.S. government, states, and national and local partners can better ensure the success of sponsorship programs and the newcomers they serve. Watch this webinar recording to hear some of the innovative solutions states are exploring as they seek to support successful sponsorship.

Framing the Economic Contributions Narrative

The Lab and Refugee Congress released a guide sharing advice from displaced leaders on how to best frame the many economic contributions they make while not losing sight of the rights and dignity of people seeking safety.

Improving Access to Mental Health Services

The Lab, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) released a new policy guide that provides an overview of the existing mental healthcare infrastructure for people who have experienced forced displacement and highlights challenges and opportunities for policy advancement and advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels. Watch the webinar to dive into its findings with real world context.

REFUGEE STORYTELLERS COLLECTIVE

This Is The #RefugeeStorytellersCollective

We all have stories to tell. On World Refugee Day, we celebrated the voices of the Refugee Storytellers Collective members who have experienced forced displacement and believe in the power of sharing their perspectives for change.

Women of Refuge

The Refugee Storytellers Collective partnered with Daughters of Change on "Women of Refuge," a podcast series featuring the powerful voices of refugee women who are giving back to their communities across the United States. Listen to their stories.

What It Means To Welcome: Refugee Perspectives

In celebration of Welcoming Week 2023, members of the Refugee Storytellers Collective hosted a webinar on finding belonging in their new communities and their advice on welcoming newcomers.

Wins On The Ground

In 2023, an unprecedented number of pro-refugee measures were introduced in state legislatures (more than 190 measures introduced in 35 states), with increased bipartisan support – and sponsorship – of inclusive legislation.

In Lab states, we saw several significant wins supported by champions on both sides of the aisle. In Georgia, a record number of bipartisan pro-refugee bills were introduced, and we saw significant movement towards reducing barriers to accessing mental health services and to licensing for internationally trained professionals. In Utah, the Lab’s State Lead at the IRC worked closely with Representative Jordan Teuscher to introduce H.B.102, the most inclusive in-state tuition policy to be successfully passed in any state in the country, offering in-state tuition access to refugee, SIVs, TPS holders, asylees, and asylum seekers. And just last week we were pleased to see the Michigan Task Force on Foreign Trained Medical Professional Licensing – an effort the Lab and partners successfully advocated for last year – release its report and recommendations to improve the process for medical licensing. For a full recap across all Lab states, read our “2023 Lab State Legislative Session in Review.”

At the same time, however, the number of anti-refugee and anti-asylum measures increased between 2022 and 2023, a concerning trend as we move into an election year. As we prepare for 2024, we will continue to build partnerships and support champions on both sides of the aisle to advance an inclusive agenda in states across the country.

Stay in Touch

Thanks for reading!

Are you interested in state advocacy or Lab resources? Reach out.

The Refugee Advocacy Lab partners with varying groups on different activities, and as such, partnership with the Lab does not necessarily imply a partner’s support for any specific activity or policy. Similarly, the Lab does not necessarily support or endorse specific activities or positions of partner organizations.

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