On February 4, a long-awaited emergency funding bill emerged from the Senate – however, this proposed legislation is riddled with permanent restrictions on asylum protections. This proposed legislation threatens to make seeking asylum nearly impossible and exacerbate ongoing crises.

The alarming provisions include a new authority allowing the expulsion of asylum seekers before they can explain their need for protection. Additionally, it proposes heightened detention and deportation measures, severely limiting access to due process and legal representation.

While the bill does include important funding for refugee services and pathways to permanent status for some vulnerable groups, it comes at an unacceptable cost. Gutting asylum protections would harm those the bill allegedly seeks to assist.

As the Senate prepares to vote, it is crucial to urge Congress to reject these harmful provisions. Asylum seekers should not be used as political pawns, and we cannot allow vulnerable populations to be manipulated for political agendas.

This critical funding must not harm asylum seekers and instead should focus on continuing the work of welcome. Asylum seekers, immigrants, and refugees all deserve a path to stability, self-sufficiency, and belonging.

Last month, members of Opening Doors’ Leadership Team traveled to Washington DC to participate in the Church World Service (CWS) Affiliate Day. At this convening, members of CWS and affiliates had the opportunity to meet with members of Congress and urge them to honor the dignity of asylum seekers, immigrants, and refugees – and to support the communities that welcome them. 

On Wednesday, January 16, Opening Doors CEO, Jessie Tientcheu, and Director of External Affairs, Sumeet Pamma, met with Rep. Blake Moore and Rep. Ami Bera along with the offices of Rep. John Curtis, Sen. Mitt Romney, and Sen. Alex Padilla.

Key policy asks from this advocacy day included: 

1. Enact robust funding to expand our capacity to welcome – while rejecting anti-asylum border policies. 
2. Conduct oversight over the administration’s implementation of permanent protections for forcibly displaced persons and operations of the U.S. resettlement program. 
3. Support legislation to welcome refugees and improve access to permanent protection. 
4. Strengthen access to safe, affordable housing for refugees and newcomers.  
5. Robustly fund child-centered community-based services for all unaccompanied children. 

The next day, our staff met with CWS leadership, affiliates, and the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Julieta Valls Noyes, to advocate for critical funding to continue strengthening our capacity to provide quality resettlement services in our communities. 

Despite the Afghan Refugee Crisis no longer receiving national media attention, the influx of new arrivals has not slowed. Over the last three months, Opening Doors has welcomed an unprecendented 450 new arrivals on the path to stability, self-sufficiency, and belonging.

           In November, we welcomed 111 new arrivals.

           In December, we welcomed 161 new arrivals.

           In January, we welcomed 178 new arrivals.



Opening Doors’ Refugee Asset Building Program is designed to help refugees save toward an asset – such as a vehicle, education, business, or home – that will increase financial independence. Recipients will attend financial literacy workshops, receive asset training, and will earn dollar for dollar matched funds up to $3,000 for an individual or $6,000 for a household.

For more information or to apply, please contact Khalid Isar at khalid@openingdoorsinc.org.

The next cohorts of Opening Doors’ Mental Wellbeing Workshops have begun and are still open for registration. Learn more about self-care and other topics by joining one these 6-week programs. Groups will be held in Dari, Pashto, and Spanish.

Dari and Pashto:

Wednesdays, 9am - 11am

Starting January 31st