Church World Service

I was out for a walk yesterday and passed a house with a large “Welcome” sign on the front porch. I stood still, asking myself: I wonder if that welcome is meant for everyone? Or just for some? In America, we love the idea of welcome. We brand it, display it and post it everywhere. But who do we really ... Read More

 Last updated: Friday, March 28, 2025  The Trump administration’s indefinite refugee ban, stop work orders, and failure to reimburse resettlement agencies have had a devastating impact on tens of thousands of refugee families and communities across the country. This resource will provide regular updates each weekday on the current state of play; updated asks for national, state and local leaders; ... Read More

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is a time of celebration, worship and charity for Muslims worldwide. Observed with special prayers, gatherings and festive meals, this joyous occasion fosters a deep spiritual connection and community. As the month-long fasting period of Ramadan ends, Muslims around the world rejoice in the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, a time for celebration ... Read More

A Federal Court in Seattle Issued Additional Preliminary Injunction in Case Challenging Refugee Ban Seattle, WA– Yesterday evening, a federal court in Seattle issued a second preliminary injunction in Pacito v. Trump, finding the government’s efforts to terminate its agreements with refugee-serving agencies to be unlawful. The government attempted to terminate these agreements just one day after the court’s previous order ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—Church World Service today expressed its alarm over the Trump administration’s decision to categorically revoke the humanitarian parole status that granted over 530,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) nationals living in the United States protection from deportation and work authorization. The blanket revocations, which are set to go into effect on April 24, will place hundreds of thousands ... Read More

On March 21, the Trump administration issued, with immediate effect, a near-total termination of the Unaccompanied Children Program, which provides legal representation to thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children across the country, including infants. The termination forces unaccompanied children – among the most vulnerable individuals in our immigration system – to navigate and somehow represent themselves in immigration court proceedings. Some ... Read More

New York City – CWS today expressed alarm over the administration’s near-total termination of work on its Unaccompanied Children Program, halting legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children. The organization notes that this executive action immediately strips thousands of children–including infants and young children–from legal representation, forcing them to now navigate and somehow represent themselves in immigration court proceedings. “No child ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—CWS today announced that the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (A.M.E. Zion) had committed to joining Church World Service as a Covenant Member. The A.M.E. Zion Church is the 15th faith-based organization to commit to Covenant Membership with CWS, together representing more than 10 million people of faith across the United States and Canada. CWS celebrates this partnership and ... Read More

Everyone deserves access to clean water, yet for millions around the world, safe drinking water and proper sanitation remain out of reach. From collapsed infrastructure and poor management to conflict and climate change, several factors contribute to families being unable to access their right to safe water. Rising global temperatures and extreme weather events are making clean water scarcer and ... Read More

Today, March 17, 2025, marks the 45th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a landmark piece of legislation that solidified the United States’ leadership in refugee protection. For decades, this legislation has upheld our nation’s commitment to welcoming those in need, providing a vital pathway to safety for the world’s most vulnerable.  However, recent executive orders from the Trump ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—Today, Church World Service decries President Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Last invoked during World War II, it remains a stain on our nation’s history, leading to the detainment of 31,000 Japanese, German, and Italian immigrants based solely on their ancestry. Church World Service calls on President Trump to rescind the invocation of the Act ... Read More

March 17, 2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the day President Jimmy Carter signed the Refugee Act of 1980, enshrining in law a framework for refugee resettlement and the protection of asylum seekers. The Trump administration’s indefinite pause on refugee resettlement and freeze on reimbursements to refugee service providers remain largely in place, and access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico ... Read More

Murakami Kotomi, a CWS Japan intern, recently interviewed participants in the “Enhancing Resilience of Afghanistan through Integrated Risk Reduction” project. This blog features her interviews with local community members about the impacts that the project has had in supporting disaster risk reduction efforts in Afghanistan. Impacts of Disaster Risk Reduction Projects Disasters can upend lives in an instant, but proactive ... Read More

In January, CWS Japan hosted a hands-on Tunisian chapati cooking class, bringing together newcomers and local residents for a shared cultural experience. Through events like these, the cafe fosters deeper connections, promotes cross-cultural understanding and creates a welcoming space where the community can engage and learn from one another. The new year has arrived, and a month has flown by ... Read More

One year after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, CWS Japan reflects on its efforts to support disaster-affected communities. By fostering local partnerships, CWS Japan continues to address the long-term challenges of disaster recovery while working to build a more resilient and inclusive emergency response system. The CWS Japan team spent the New Year praying that no large-scale disasters would occur—in fact, ... Read More

In November, CWS Japan hosted several events, including a disaster risk reduction walk to inform Japanese language school students about local disaster preparedness resources and storytelling sessions. Through events like these, the cafe fosters deeper connections, promotes cross-cultural understanding and creates a welcoming space where the community can engage and learn from one another. CWS Japan recently opened a café—the ... Read More

CWS Japan works alongside communities in Afghanistan who are most impacted and at risk for disasters. Below, Takeshi Komino, CWS Country Representative for Japan, shares information about the project and future efforts for the CWS Japan team. Afghanistan is a country that has been hit by disasters such as floods and earthquakes many times. As political instability continues, protecting lives ... Read More

CWS Responds to U.S. Government Status Report in Pacito v. Trump Proposal to deny refugee resettlement contracts to long standing partners would strip refugee families of robust established support networks Washington, D.C.—CWS today noted deep concern following news that the Department of State is preparing to issue a request for proposals to identify a new singular service provider to provide ... Read More

For the millions of people around the world who have been forcibly displaced from their homes, resettlement to a new country is often the best hope for building safe, bright futures. Since CWS began its work responding to the devastation of World War II, we have helped refugee families rebuild their lives in the United States. According to the United ... Read More

Last Updated: March 7, 2025 Since CWS began its work in response to the devastation of World War II, we have been dedicated to helping refugee families rebuild their lives in the United States. Through strong partnerships with local communities and congregations, we ensure every arriving family receives a warm welcome and the essential support they need to thrive as ... Read More