Church World Service

The Trump administration’s indefinite refugee ban, stop work orders and prolonged delays in reimbursement for resettlement agencies have had a devastating impact on tens of thousands of refugee families and communities across the country and around the world. Welcome to the latest edition of State of Play from Church World Service. This resource will provide regular updates from the CWS ...

The post Daily State of Play: Trump’s Indefinite Refugee Ban and Funding Halt appeared first on CWS.

Background Stranded overseas: The Trump administration’s indefinite refugee ban remains in place, stranding over 100,000 refugees fleeing persecution around the world who were conditionally approved for resettlement before the ban took effect.  These stranded refugees, many of whom have gone through years of vetting and screening, include: Nearly 15,000 Iranians fleeing religious persecution in the Lautenberg Program pipeline Hundreds of ...

The post Take Action: Urge Your Elected Leaders to Fight for Refugees Ahead of Upcoming Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions appeared first on CWS.

In the dry hills of Carazo, Nicaragua, every rainy season matters. Families depend on the land for food and income, but frequent droughts and poor soil conditions make farming more difficult each year. For a long time, each season brought more uncertainty than harvest.  Every year, an estimated 55 million people around the world is affected by droughts. Drought threatens people’s livelihoods, increases the risk ...

The post “I Feel in Control of My Future”: How Families in Nicaragua Are Building Resilience Through Farming and Savings appeared first on CWS.

In August 2026, a boy named Diego was forced to represent himself in immigration court. “I don’t know how to do it,” he explained, referring to an asylum application that must be filled out in English. The judge told him, “I can’t help you.”    In recent months, the Trump administration has ramped up its efforts to detain and deport ...

The post Protect Immigrant Children: Urge Congress to Demand Safety and Due Process appeared first on CWS.

In Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, François is rebuilding food security for his family through sustainable vegetable farming. With support from CWS and partners, he has adapted into a farmer and community leader, helping build food security and resilience for his neighbors.   Across many parts of Africa, the months between planting and harvest are known as the lean season, a time when household food stores ...

The post From Fisherman to Farmer: Rebuilding Food Security During the Lean Season in Tanzania  appeared first on CWS.

On June 24, 2026, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other, collapsing buildings across Caracas and the surrounding region. Nearly 18,000 individuals and families lost their homes, while thousands more remain in temporary shelters, uncertain whether their homes will ever be safe to live in again.  In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, local churches, community organizations and volunteers provided critical support. Two months later, the ...

The post Venezuela Earthquake Update: Two Months On  appeared first on CWS.

Two months after powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela, thousands of families are still living with uncertainty. While the buildings that collapsed captured immediate attention, many of the toughest questions now surround the structures that remain standing. Support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the United Church of Christ’s Global HOPE and Church World Service (CWS) helps engineers from ...

The post When Recovery Continues With One Question: Is My Home Safe? appeared first on CWS.

In Moldova, a partnership between CWS and local organization Zdorovii Gorod demonstrates how investing in local leadership can strengthen child protection, support displaced families and build more sustainable humanitarian responses.  In times of conflict, children are especially vulnerable. Many are forced from their homes in search of safety and face prolonged displacement, disrupted education and limited access to health care and critical support networks. When protection ...

The post How Local Leadership Strengthens Child Protection for Families Affected by the Ukraine Crisis appeared first on CWS.

This blog was written by Maria, a participant in a program implemented by one of CWS’s local partners in Moldova, Healthy City (also known as Zdorovii Gorod), which supports Ukrainian refugees with comprehensive services including food and non-food items, social inclusion and integration and psychosocial support. These services were made possible through funding from the United Methodist Committee on Relief ...

The post “You Saw Potential in Us”: From Ukraine to Moldova: Rebuilding Life After Displacement appeared first on CWS.

Right now, there are no policies in place to prevent federal immigration enforcement agents from deliberately targeting spaces that represent key pillars of civic, religious, and community life. The threat of immigration enforcement at “sensitive locations” – such as houses of worship, schools, hospitals, courthouses, food pantries, and places where people receive essential services – is preventing refugees and immigrants ...

The post Urge Your Members of Congress to Pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act appeared first on CWS.

After fleeing war in Ukraine with her children, Marina found safety, educational support and a path toward stability through the CWS partner-led Anastasis Community Center in Moldova. These services were made possible with funding from Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD). Pictured above: children participate in activities hosted by the CWS partner-led Anastasis Community Center in Moldova.   “Today, I no ...

The post Keeping Refugees Safe and Stable after Fleeing the War in Ukraine appeared first on CWS.

Appeal Name: CWS’ Emboldened Commitment in the Face of Adversity   Date Issued: 14 February 2025 Date Updated: 6 August 2026 Appeal Code: 6210 Appeal Amount: $5 million over 24 months   Church World Service was born in the wake of the devastation of World War II to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as ...

The post Emergency Appeal: CWS’ Emboldened Commitment in the Face of Adversity appeared first on CWS.

Today, unaccompanied children are being detained and deported at three times the rate as they were under the first Trump administration. Those without attorneys face an extremely high risk of deportation compared to those with legal representation. Children as young as 2-years-old, many of whom do not speak English, have been forced to represent themselves in immigration hearings across the ...

The post Urge Congress to Support Legal Representation for Immigrant Children appeared first on CWS.

Pregnant, Postpartum, and Nursing Immigrants Suffer Medical Neglect in Detention   Pregnant women in ICE custody are being denied prenatal and other essential health care, suffering miscarriages alone without timely medical treatment, and waiting weeks to be seen by hospital or medical staff, only to ultimately have their appointments canceled or postponed. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that between ...

The post Bill Summary: The Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act appeared first on CWS.

In 2016, the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act was introduced in Congress for the first time to guarantee legal counsel for all unaccompanied children and other vulnerable individuals in immigration court proceedings. Reintroduced in the 119th Congress, the legislation now also contains additional safeguards to ensure that unaccompanied children have access to counsel throughout their case and fair ...

The post Bill Summary: Fair Day in Court for Kids Act appeared first on CWS.

 Expiration of Federal Contract Leaves Vulnerable Children Facing Proceedings Alone   WASHINGTON, D.C., August 5, 2026—On Friday, July 31st, the Trump administration ended a critical federal contract with the Acacia Center for Justice providing legal services and representation to children who entered the United States without a parent or guardian. The decision dismantled a network of nearly 100 legal service providers, including Church World Service, and leaves over ...

The post More Than 20,000 Unaccompanied Children at Risk of Losing Legal Representation in Immigration Court  appeared first on CWS.

Almost 20 years ago, I stood as a young lawyer before a judge for the first and only time in my career. Contract law was my comfort zone, not the courtroom. But the pro bono immigration case I had spent years preparing had reached its decisive moment. That day would determine whether my client, Jean Batiste, a husband and father ...

The post At 75, the Refugee Treaty remains an enduring lifeline – and I’ve seen it work time and again  appeared first on CWS.

After fleeing Afghanistan, Layla arrived in the United States alone and uncertain of where to turn. With support from CWS and community partners, she is beginning to rebuild her life and imagine a future rooted in safety, dignity and service.  Rebuilding Safety for Afghan Neighbors  By age 35, Layla* had built a thriving life in Afghanistan. After years of hard work and dedicated study, she ...

The post “They Made Me Feel Like I Wasn’t Alone Anymore”: Why Refugee Protection Matters appeared first on CWS.

Each August, members of Congress go on “recess,” returning to their home states and districts. Members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate use these periods to engage with constituents, hold town halls and public events, and conduct in-district meetings. This August recess is particularly important as many members are campaigning for re-election. The 2026 August recess is ...

The post Take Action for Immigrants and Refugees During the 2026 August Recess appeared first on CWS.

 CWS Urges Stronger Political Commitment to Protection of Refugees and Access to Asylum   WASHINGTON, D. C., JULY 28, 2026—As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention today, Church World Service (CWS), the international humanitarian and social justice organization, urges stronger political commitment to refugee protection and access to asylum. Seventy-five years after nations came together to establish a framework for protecting people fleeing ...

The post UPHOLDING REFUGEE RIGHTS ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1951 REFUGEE CONVENTION  appeared first on CWS.