Church World Service

For many Haitians living in the United States, distance from home means more than geography. It can mean separation from the language, traditions and relationships that provide support, connection and a sense of belonging.  Lakou Tanama was created to help bridge that gap. Through free, confidential virtual healing circles, Haitians across the diaspora gather in Kreyòl to share stories, build ...

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The post Creating Healing Spaces for Haitians: An Interview with Lakou Tanama Co-Founder Nadège Bellande Robertson and CWS Program Officer Dahene Gustave appeared first on CWS.

Killing of Johan Sebastian occurred less than a week after Houston shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo  WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 14, 2026—Church World Service today expressed its condolences and a message of mourning and solidarity following another fatal ICE shooting, this time in Biddeford, Maine. The victim, Johan Sebastian, was a 26-year-old Colombian national with work authorization, and media reports assert ...

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The post Deadly ICE Shooting in Maine Escalates Calls for Accountability and Independent Investigations  appeared first on CWS.

On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston resident and father, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents in the city’s East End. Just days later, ICE fatally shot another man, Johan Sebastián, in Biddeford, Maine. Federal immigration officials have shot and killed 11 people since the second Trump administration began. In 2026 alone, 21 people have died while detained ...

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The post TAKE ACTION: Demand Justice and Accountability After ICE Shootings appeared first on CWS.

CWS Calls for Accountability WASHINGTON, D.C., July 10, 2026 — Church World Service issued a statement today expressing its profound condolences to the family, loved ones, and neighbors mourning the loss of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Houston resident and father who was fatally shot by federal immigration agents on July 7 in the city’s East End. CWS joins the growing ...

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The post Fatal Shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston Continues Pattern of Violent ICE Immigration Enforcement Tactics   appeared first on CWS.

As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, CWS reaffirms a simple promise: protection must remain at the center of humanitarian action. From refugee resettlement and asylum support to disaster response, mental health care and anti-trafficking services, CWS works alongside communities so every person can live with safety, dignity and hope. “No one shall expel or ...

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The post Until Everyone Is Safe: Why Protection Is at the Heart of CWS Humanitarian Work appeared first on CWS.

After fleeing Cuba and resettling in the United States, Frank is continuing his remarkable journey to the Paralympics, training for elite competition while rebuilding his life with support from CWS Florida. His story highlights the resilience of refugee athletes and the power of community support. A Refugee Athlete’s Journey Toward the Paralympics  When Frank* arrived in the United States after ...

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The post ‘When We Invest in Dreams, We Unlock Potential’: One Man’s Journey to the Paralympics appeared first on CWS.

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2026—Today, the international humanitarian and social justice organization Church World Service welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Barbara affirming that the Constitution guarantees citizenship to those born on U.S. soil, while decrying two SCOTUS rulings last week allowing the Trump administration, respectively, to turn away asylum seekers at the border and to terminate Temporary ...

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The post Church World Service Responds to Supreme Court Rulings on Asylum Rights, TPS, and Birthright Citizenship appeared first on CWS.

On June 25, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Mullin v. Doe allowing the administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for more than 330,000 Haitians and over 6,000 Syrians in the United States. The termination is expected to take effect imminently.  The Court ruled that despite extremely unsafe conditions in Haiti and the Department of Homeland Security’s numerous procedural violations of ...

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The post TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Senators to Pass Legislation to Protect Haitian TPS Holders appeared first on CWS.

After being displaced twice, Veronique rebuilt her life in Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Refugee Camp by becoming a farmer and community leader, improving her family’s food security while empowering others to do the same. Forced to Flee, Determined to Rebuild  When people are forced to flee due to conflict, they are not only leaving behind their homes. They are leaving behind their ...

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The post “I Work Hard Because My Children Depend on Me”: How Veronique Is Strengthening Food Security in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp appeared first on CWS.

In the small coastal town of Chornomorsk, Ukraine, news spreads fast. For a person living with HIV, like Oksana, the fear of private life becoming public can feel debilitating. Oksana spent years trapped in self-stigma, afraid of being judged by her neighbors and wanting nothing more than to become invisible.  Then, her biggest fear came true: during a visit to the local clinic, her doctor violated medical confidentiality, writing her ...

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The post “I Finally Felt That My Voice Mattered”: How Oksana is Advancing Women’s Dignity in Ukraine appeared first on CWS.

In Indonesia, CWS Japan is building disaster-resilient communities along the Benanain River. Through the I-CREATE project, local leadership, technical expertise and climate adaptation strategies are helping communities prepare for and reduce the impact of disasters.

The post One Year Later: Building Disaster-Resilient Communities in Indonesia appeared first on CWS.

Washington, June 19, 2026—Church World Service today commemorates Juneteenth, the federal holiday honoring the sacrifices and legacy of Black American leaders that coincides with the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas signaling the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery.    CWS is committed to honoring the legacy of all those who strove for equality in our nation, including the sacrifices and resilience of Black American ...

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The post On Juneteenth, a Day of Reflection and a Reminder of Unfinished Business appeared first on CWS.

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2026 —Since it was first established by the United Nations in 2001, World Refugee Day has generated lifesaving resources, awareness, and political will to support the needs of refugees stuck in protracted displacement. This year, as the world prepares to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention on July 28, the faith-based international humanitarian organization CWS calls on the international community to uphold its commitment to international refugee law and reaffirm the fundamental rights of refugees worldwide to asylum and protection.  Today, one in every 70 people worldwide is forcibly ...

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The post World Refugee Day: CWS Urges Renewed Global Commitments to Asylum and Protection as Millions Endure Long-term Displacement appeared first on CWS.

Today, CWS highlights the imperative to uphold global commitments to asylum and protection, while honoring the courage of the 41.6 million refugees around the world who have been forced to flee violence and persecution in search of safety.

The post World Refugee Day 2026: Upholding Asylum and Protection appeared first on CWS.

Each decade over the past 60 years has been hotter than the one before it, and the past 11 years have been the hottest on record. As heat season begins this year, extreme temperatures and drought are jeopardizing food production, health, and livelihoods, especially in low-income communities. Climate-related disasters displace more people every year than conflicts, and refugees and displaced people are the hardest hit, with an estimated three-quarters of the world’s refugees and displaced living in climate hotspots. CWS supports families affected by disaster and displacement with emergency response, recovery assistance and long-term resilience-building. 

The post Extreme Heat, Climate Change and Displacement: Who is at Greatest Risk? appeared first on CWS.

Global displacement has reached historic levels, with millions of people forced from their homes each year. These ten key facts highlight essential information about refugees, the challenges they face and the valuable contributions they make—along with ways you can support them.  More than 117 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and the chance to rebuild their ...

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The post 10 Facts You Should Know About Refugees appeared first on CWS.

World Refugee Day – held annually on June 20 – is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the resilience and courage of those fleeing violence and persecution globally. It serves as a call to action for governments and communities to strengthen their efforts to provide safe haven, resources, and opportunities for refugees and other displaced people to rebuild their lives. ...

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The post Take Action: This World Refugee Day, Urge Congress to Defend Refuge appeared first on CWS.

Church World Service echoes the urgent need for guardrails and reform before increasing immigration enforcement spending  Washington, D.C.—Church World Service today called on Congress to oppose the latest budget reconciliation bill that provides Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with 70 billion dollars. The bill includes zero common sense guardrails to rein in the agencies’ reckless behavior that has resulted in prolonged detention of children and families; warrantless arrests; enforcement actions at schools, ...

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The post CWS Urges Congress to Vote Down Budget That Includes $70 Billion Additional for ICE and CBP   appeared first on CWS.

Dear Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin: The undersigned 25 faith-based organizations and congregations write to express our strong opposition to H.R. 175, the “Deport Alien Gang Members Act.” Across our traditions, our organizations share the commitment to welcome the sojourner, love our neighbor, and uphold the dignity of every person. H.R. 175 betrays that call by penalizing members of ...

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The post Faith-based Organizations Oppose H.R. 175, the “Deport Alien Gang Members Act,” appeared first on CWS.

A CWS Senior Anti-Trafficking Caseworker shares how she transformed her personal experience with trafficking into a life of purpose.