Dear Friend,

The start of a new year brings both reflection and possibility. We welcome 2026 with renewed enthusiasm and optimism for what lies ahead. 

The past year tested us in profound ways – 2025 brought significant challenges that required us to rethink our service model and reimagine how we deliver support to our community.  

In the face of uncertainty—particularly due to shifting policies impacting immigration and refugee resettlement—we leaned into innovation, sustainability, and adaptability. With your unwavering support, we weathered the storm with determination and tenacity, while laying thoughtful plans for the future. 

Out of these challenges emerged opportunity. In 2026, we are excited to expand initiatives designed to help sustain our mission while ensuring we can continue providing critical services to our neighbors most in need: 

• Dignity Immigration Legal Services – Offering high-quality, reasonably priced immigration legal services, while continuing low-cost and pro bono support for program participants. 

• Dignity Behavioral Health (coming soon) – Providing a full range of evidence-based therapeutic services for individuals and families, delivered through a trauma-informed, culturally competent lens. 

• Dignity Thrift – In Spring, we will be opening our resource center to the public to purchase gently used items, allowing us to continue offering free essential goods to program participants. You can shop Dignity Thrift on Poshmark.  

Each of these initiatives strengthens our ability to sustain existing programs and expand access to vital services across our community. They represent a deeper commitment to it. 

As we look ahead, we invite you to be part of this next chapter. Please share our services with your networks and communities, and continue to support our work to create a thriving community.  

Thank you for your trust, partnership, and belief in our work. 

With gratitude and hope, 

Chief Executive Officer

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area

“We continue to do the good work,” Peck said. “Even in challenging moments, we just continue to see people putting their faith into action.” 

Read AP news story highlighting a conversation with LSSNCA CEO, Kristyn Peck. 

US faith leaders supporting immigrants brace for tough year | AP News 

For MLK Day of Service, we were joined by several members of Junior Legue of North Virgina (JLNV) at the Resource Center. While onsite, JLNV volunteers assisted in preparing the building for the opening of Dignity Thrift. Volunteers supported the painting of walls, moving fixtures, organizing accessories, and rearranging clothing racks to assist with a more accessible shopping experience.  

At a recent Know Your Rights (KYR) workshop, our legal team connected with adult participants, provided legal consultations, and helped distribute shelf-stable food donated by the Capital Area Food Bank, ensuring families had access to both information and resources. 

To learn more about our immigration legal services visit lssnca.org/legal 

Resource Center Update: The Resource Center will be closed for a few weeks in February to help prepare for Dignity Thrift’s grand opening. Please check our website before planning your visit.

Join LSSNCA for a virtual town hall at noon on Thursday, Feb. 12 to learn about policy changes impacting refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, hear how LSSNCA continues to serve neighbors amid these shifts, and explore how communities can take meaningful action. 

This month marks one year of the new administration. Below we highlight some of the policy changes that have impacted our work and neighbors we serve. 

USRAP remains severely limited

• On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14163 (“Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program”), suspending USRAP until the administration determines  admissions “align” with U.S. interests.  
  
• For FY2026 (Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026), the administration set a refugee admissions ceiling of 7,500, a historic low. The administration’s stated prioritization of white Afrikaners from South Africa within limited slots.
    
• Pacito v. Trump continues to challenge the suspension and related implementation (including impacts on processing and resettlement funding).

Following the tragic shooting of two U.S. national guards on Nov. 26, 2025, a series of immigration policy changes took effect including: 

• Placing an indefinite hold on all pending asylum applications  (Form I-589) regardless of the applicant's country. 
  
• Halting the processing of visas for Afghan nationals, effectively suspending the special immigration program for Afghans who helped the United States in Afghanistan. 
  
• “Re-review / re-interview” actions and adjudicative holds: for nationals of specified countries often described publicly as “high-risk” or aligned with travel-ban frameworks. 

Travel ban expansion  


On Dec. 16, 2025, President Trump issued an expanded travel/entry restriction adding 20 countries and restrictions tied to Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents. 

Immigrant visa processing pauses for 75 countries  

On Jan. 14, 2026, the State Department announced it will suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, citing public-charge/public-assistance concerns; implementation begins Jan. 21, 2026. 

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) 


TPS has been either terminated or not renewed for many countries, including Afghanistan, with some designations set to expire in 2026. A full list of TPS countries and their current status is available here: https://asaptogether.org/en/temporary-protected-status/ 

Impacts of H.R. 1, “One Big Beautiful Bill” 


Signed into law on July 4, 2025, H.R. 1,  


• Cuts Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for millions of people, including refugees and asylees without green cards. 
  
• Undermines protections for unaccompanied immigrant children, prolonging their release from government custody, and implementing a $5,000 minimum sponsorship fee for children to be united with a parent or family member.  

• Implements new or increases fees for humanitarian immigration applications, including asylum, humanitarian parole, special immigrant juvenile status, and work permits.  

• Allocates unprecedented funding levels for immigration enforcement, detention, and deportation efforts, making ICE the largest U.S. federal law enforcement agency, and larger than the budgets of most of the world’s militaries.  

Donate: Support our mission of creating thriving communities by making a one-time donation.  


Advocate: Join our partners at Church World Service to contact your elected representatives and call on them to speak out against these harmful policies and ongoing attacks on immigrant communities.