On September 13, 2018, refugees and former refugees from 31 states and Washington DC sent a letter to President Trump urging him to increase the refugee admissions cap to at least 75,000 in Fiscal Year 2019. Signatories were business owners, community leaders, faith leaders and elected officials, including Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran and Helena Montana Mayor Wilmot Collins.
Click Here to Listen to the We Are All America "Refugees Speak Out" National Press Call
September 13, 2018
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As former refugees, we are writing to respectfully urge you to resettle at least 75,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2019.
The United States is a generous country with a proud history of providing refuge to those fleeing violence and persecution. We have been personal beneficiaries of this generosity and give back daily to the country that welcomed us. For this reason, we must speak out strongly against reports that the administration may set a refugee admissions goal at 25,000 or even less.
We write to you today not only as people who were once forced to flee our countries of origin, but also as proud Americans. Former refugees are this nation’s business owners, workers, faith leaders, elected officials and valued members of our local communities.
The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program has successfully resettled more than 3 million refugees since 1975. According to a newly released report—A Return to First Principles: How Refugees Help to Define, Strengthen, and Revitalize the United States—refugees successfully integrate by virtually every metric, and they contribute significantly to local communities and to the nation’s economy. As a pillar of U.S. foreign policy, our nation’s resettlement program represents a standard of excellence that other countries look to as a touchstone for their own policies.
Despite the success of the resettlement program, last year the United States set its lowest ever resettlement goal, just 45,000 refugees, and we are on pace to receive less than half that number. Record-low refugee arrivals this year have prolonged family separation, and we are deeply concerned about the impact that further dismantling refugee resettlement will have on American communities and families. At a time when there are more than 25.4 million refugees worldwide and major refugee crises in countries including Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Venezuela, and Burma, our commitment to refugee resettlement must increase, not decrease.
We encourage you to continue to uphold the values inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty and return refugee resettlement to its honored place in our nation's history. Thank you for listening to the voices of former refugees as you determine the number of people our country will help in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Alabama
Tuan Do (Vietnam), Community Leader, Mobile
Arizona
Abdefgabar Mohamdian (Sudan), Community Leader, Glendale
Abdule Rahman
Abdulkareem Mohamed (Sudan), Legal Aid, Phoenix
Adam Ali (Sudan), Community Leader, Glendale
Ali Touly, Community Leader, Phoenix
Babikar Rasheed (Sudan), Aircraft Fueler, Phoenix
Bandak Lul (South Sudan), Human Rights Activist and Refugee Advocate, Phoenix
Bassam S Mahmood (Iraq), Tucson
Dai Emaim Sadig, Phoenix
Elamin Ahmed (Sudan), Community Leader, Phoenix
Eltayeb Abdalla (Sudan), Chandler
Sanja Tetaric (Former Yugoslavia), Mother and Social Worker, Phoenix
Teresa Flores, Phoenix
California
Amanda Gamban, Volunteer and Donations Coordinator, International Rescue Committee, San Jose
Asad Salihi (Afghanistan), Print Production Specialist, San Jose
Carmen Kcomt (Peru), Human Trafficking Advocate, San Diego
Dina Bostandzic
Fatima Barre (Somalia), San Jose
Janet Zan (Burma), Community Leader and Social Worker, Daly City
Lana Radosavljevic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), US Programs Director, The Refugee Center, San Francisco
M Khalid Faisal Habib (Afghanistan), Revenue Assurance Executive, Fremont
Mohammad Shafi Saboory (Afghanistan), Engineer, Sacramento
Muhibullah Archiwal (Afghanistan), Social Worker, Sacramento
Mustafa Musarat, Bay Point
Ram Khatiwoda, Sacramento
Shahpur Ahmad Amerkhail, Civil Engineer/Construction Manager, North Highlands
Thi Bui (Vietnam), Berkeley
Thu Quach (Vietnam), Health Professional, Berkeley
Wali Malakzay (Afghanistan), Community Leader, West Sacramento
Colorado
Halah Jundi (Iraq), Refugee Case Manager, Denver
Kailash Rai (Bhutan), Refugee Case Manager, Denver
Connecticut
Abdullah Alsamraie (Iraq), Father, Chemist/Lab Manager, New Haven
Elvis Krcic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Business Owner, Wolcott
Grace Mahoundi (Democratic Republic of Congo), College Student, New Haven
Jelena Ivanis (Croatia), Medical Student, New Haven
Delaware
Louren Gboeah (Liberia), Refugee Congress Delegate, Wilmington
District of Columbia
Bilal Askaryar (Afghanistan), Washington DC
Florida
Abdelrazak Ahmet (Chad), Jacksonville
Abibsso Landrou (Togo), Jacksonville
Alen Haleterld (Ethiopia), Student, Jacksonville
Ali Aljubouri (Iraq), Community Leader and Soccer Coach, Atlantic Beach
Ammar Aljabouri (Iraq), Truck Driver, Jacksonville
Basma Alawee (Iraq), Community Leader and Advocate, Atlantic Beach
Carlos Colfy (Jamaica), Jacksonville
Ding Deng (South Sudan), Jacksonville
Enock Bunane (Uganda), Student, Jacksonville
Eqbuand Evlul (Haiti), Jacksonville
Faisal Ahmadi (Afghanistan), Jacksonville
Gabrial Hmos, Student, Jacksonville
Hind Alajmi (Iraq), Mom/Cook, Jacksonville
Iddy Manzi (Tanzania), Student, Jacksonville
Isihaka Ann (Tanzania), Jacksonville
Jeffrey Thomas (Haiti) Student, Jacksonville
Jonathan Nestor (Haiti), Jacksonville
Julia Ostropolsky, Business Owner, Seminole
Keven Eulcoach (Haiti), Jacksonville
Loua Fassou (Guinea), Jacksonville
Malath Al Arnosi (Iraq), Artist, Jacksonville
Mohemmed Aljabouri (Iraq), Security Officer, Jacksonville
Muna Tek (Ethiopia), Jacksonville
Odomee Aj Ndyisaba (Tanzania), Jacksonville
Pierre Umimana Pumimana (Rwanda), Accountant, Jacksonville
Sahar Alhadithi
Selam Alemayehu (Ethiopia), Jacksonville
Shabaka Mathln (Rwanda), Jacksonville
Suhaila Zumot, Daytona Beach
Valentine Ihoduba (Nigeria), Jacksonville
Zewdeneh Kassa (Ethiopia), Student, Jacksonville
Georgia
Aimee Zangandou (Rwanda), Community Leader and Program Manager, Lilburn
Meron Daniel (Ethiopia), Refugee Economic Empowerment, Clarkston
Hawaii
Valdir Solera Junior (Brazil), Community Leader, Wailuku
Idaho
Slobodanka Hodzic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Program Director and Mother, Boise
Indiana
Mohamed Osman Mohamed (Somalia), Youth Mentor and Corporate Responsibility Analyst, Indianapolis
Louisiana
Ann Agbiak (South Sudan), Graduate Student, Baton Rouge
Dauda Sesay (Sierra Leone), Community Leader and Refugee Congress Delegate, Baton Rouge
Maine
Ekhlas Ahmed (Sudan), Teacher, Portland
Maryland
Basel Mo (Syria), Community leader and Father, Baltimore
Kalman Rupp, Ph.D. (Hungary), Research Economist, Rockville
Nezia Munezero Kubwayo (Burundi), Baltimore
Massachusetts
Rich Enuol (Vietnam), Brain Injury Services Site Manager, Easthampton
Michigan
Angelique Mugabekazi, Social Worker, Grand Rapids
Bawi Par (Burma), Community Leader, Grand Rapids
Biak Mang (Burma), Faith Leader/Treasurer, Falam Baptist Church, Grand Rapids
Gin Piang (Burma), Refugee Case Manager, Grand Rapids
Haitham Hashim Atiyah (Iraq), Former Paraprofessional, Grand Rapids
Salah Kamal (Syria), Worker Employment Specialist, Grand Rapids
Sanela Sprecic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Public School Educator and Academic Coach, Kentwood
Teresita Long (Cuba), Grand Rapids
Missouri
Jaime Ursic, Educator, Kansas City
Montana
Wilmot Collins (Liberia), Mayor, City of Helena
New Jersey
Albana Gurabardhi (Kosovo), Nutley
New Mexico
Mahbooba Mufid (Afghanistan), Community Leader and Organizer, Albuquerque
Mohammed Alkwaz (Iraq), Community Leader, Albuquerque
New York
George W Tarr (Liberia), Staten Island
Trinh Truong (Vietnam), Student, Utica
North Carolina
Adamou Mohamed (Niger), Community Leader, Greensboro
Allison Mahaley (Syria), Community Leader, Hillsborough
Bereket Mesfun (Eritrea), Student, Raleigh
Birendra Chhetri (Bhutan), Refugee Case Manager, Greensboro
Dev Bhandari (Bhutan), Community Leader, High Point
Felix Iyoko (Democratic Republic of Congo), Faith Leader, Raleigh
Feven T Smith (Eritrea), Social Worker, Raleigh
Katia Hamdan (Lebanon), Greensboro
Lauren Rcom (Vietnam), Mother/Student, Greensboro
Liana Adrong (Vietnam), Greensboro
Nazrawi Sibhat (Eritrea), Resettlement Case Manager, Greensboro
Samira Jasim (Iraq), CAD Technician, Raleigh
Sufyan Abdullah (Iraq), Father, Cashier, Durham
TJ Giri (Nepal), Employment Coordinator, Raleigh
Y' Levi Mlo (Vietnam), Greensboro
Ohio
Ahmed Abdille (Somalia), Family Reunification Worker, Columbus
Jacqueline Kifuko (Uganda), Refugee Organizer, Columbus
Jagat Acharya (Bhutan), Business Owner, Columbus
Jawid Ahmadzai (Afghanistan), Community Leader, Akron
Mohamed Ali (Somalia), Engineer and Community Advocate, Columbus
Seleshi Ayalew Asfaw (Ethiopia), Nonprofit Executive Director, Columbus
Oregon
Baher Butti (Iraq), Secretary General, Iraqi Society of Oregon, Portland
Chi Nguyen (Vietnam), Business Owner, Salem
Jamal Dar (Somalia), Founder, African Youth Community Organization and Design Manager, Nike, Portland
Kayse Jama (Somalia), Executive Director, Unite Oregon, Portland
Mohamed Mohamed (Somalia), Community Health Worker, Portland
Muwafaq Alkattan (Iraq), Iraqi Society of Oregon, Tigard
Som Subedi (Bhutan), Community Leader, Portland
Taghreed Challoob (Iraq), Community Leader, Beaverton
Pennsylvania
Adama Bangura (Sierra Leone), Philadelphia
Alieu Sanoe (Liberia), Collingdale
Joseph Sackor (Liberia), Refugee Congress Delegate for PA, Levittown
Mohammed Dukuly (Liberia), IT Specialist, Folcroft
Mustafa Nuur (Somalia), Business Owner, Lancaster
Rhode Island
Alexander D. Tarlue (Liberia), Community Leader, Neezonia Association in America, Providence
South Dakota
Clara Hart (Mozambiqe), Community Leader, Retired Educator, Refugee Congress Delegate, Sioux Falls
Jenina Gatnoor (South Sudan), Faith Leader/Pastor, Sioux Falls
Tennessee
Daoud Frutan (Afghanistan), Community Leader and Refugee Coordinator, Memphis
Dr. Gatluak Ter Thach (Sudan), Nashville
Fikiri David Madogo (Democratic Republic of Congo), Memphis
Fozia Mohamed, Antioch
Khadra Mohamud (Somalia), Mother, Public Health Advisor, Nashville
Koang Chol (Sudan), Faith Leader, Gallatin
Mangal Tamang
Shalum Deeka (Sudan), Community Leader
Texas
Abdul Hamid Ayubzai (Afghanistan), Community Leader, Father, Dallas
Ahmad Zia Adib (Afghanistan), Engineer, Austin
Aisha Koroma, Refugee Advocate, Houston
Anmar Al Hasani (Iraq), Employement Specialist, Houston
Azhar Yousif (Iraq), Community Leader and Student, Austin
Bernadette Musekura (Rawanda), Social Worker, Dallas
Bhuvanesh Bhatt (India), Software Developer, Austin
Christian Iongue Dessug (Cameroon), Senior Financial Analyst, Austin
Desire Nizigiyimana, Refugee Program Assistant, Austin
Dhefar Alheleji (Iraq), Case Manager, Allen
Dr. Hadidja Nyiransekuye (Rwanda), Community Leader, Assistant Professor, Refugee Congress Delegate, Denton
Dr. Walter Nguyen (Vietnam), Employer and Executive Director, Dallas
Firas Al Maghazachi, San Antonio
Gachuruzi Kanyamanza
Ghassan AL Hammami (Iraq), Social Worker and Refugee Case Manager, Fort Worth
Gildas Vindou, Austin
Gordana Arnautovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Business Owner, Houston
Jawid Georgewali (Afghanistan), Round Rock
Jean-Claude Mukerwa Mauridi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Fort Worth
Judy Le (Vietnam), Business Owner and Community Leader, Houston
Khalad Amer (Iraq), Refugee Case Manager, Fort Worth
Lalit Pradhan (Bhutan), Manager, Dallas
Lena Asensio (Cuba), Community Leader and Program Officer, Houston
Lila Razzaqui, Community Leader, Dallas
Luke Saw (Burma), Community Leader, Dallas
- Al Ibrahim (Iraq), Fort Worth
Mahesh Neopaney (Bhutan), Katy
Mansoor Pozhhan (Afghanistan), Father, Case Manager, Austin
Marvin Jimu (Zimbabwe), Fort Worth
Mary Say (Burma), Houston
Michel Sanchez (Cuba), Refugee Employee Case Manager, Houston
Mohammad Omid (Afghanistan), Austin
Mohammed Almani (Iraq), Business Owner, Houston
Muhammad Ghmh (Afghanistan), System Administrator, Austin
Musaab Alkhayatt (Iraq), Father, Resettlement Program Supervisor, Amarillo
Naiyolis Palomo (Cuba), Community Leader, Houston
Nisar Ahmad Momand, Houston
Niyonkuru Alexis (Burundi), Burundi Community Organization Representative, Houston
Parvez Fazli (Afghanistan), IT Specialist, Austin
Prakash Koirala (Bhutan), Chairperson, Bhutan Community Organization, Fort Worth
Rasha (Iraq), Physician, Houston
Richard Chancem (Burma), Refugee Case Worker, Dallas
Roy Mong (Taiwan), Dallas
Saghar Roshan, Faith Leader and Director, San Antonio
Saniha Lakhpaty (United Arab Emirates), Student, Houston
Sanja Bogdanovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Business Owner, Fort Worth
Sedrick Ntwali (Democratic Republic of Congo), Community Organizer, Austin
Sharefa Daw (Burma), Resettlement Case Worker, Dallas
Sian Khai (Burma), Dallas
Som Bhandari (Bhutan), Office Assistant, Fort Worth
Sudip Adhikari (Bhutan), Business Owner, Fort Worth
Susanne Lubanga, Abilene
Tedros Wondefrash (Eritrea), Community Leader, Houston
Timothy Mukuke (Democratic Republic of Congo), Refugee Advocate and Marketing Executive, Houston
Toya Mary Okonkwo, Professor, Fort Worth
Tresor Fikiri Madjagi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Employment Case Manager, Fort Worth
Victoria Baritz (Ukraine), Austin
Waleed Ali (Iraq), Driver, Austin
Zainab Ihsan, Houston
Utah
Alaa Al-Barkawi (Iraq), Refugee Advocate, College and Career Readiness Specialist, West Valley
Ali Rasheed (Iraq), Job Developer, Salt Lake City
Gyanu Dulal (Bhutan), Refugee Congress Delegate, Salt Lake City
Salam Shawky (Iraq), Refugee Coordinator, Salt Lake City
Sara Hussein (Iraq), Faith Leader and Senior Case Worker, Salt Lake City
Tatjana Andrews (Bosnia), Salt Lake City
Thet Aung (Burma), Salt Lake City
Virginia
Arsalan Syan (Iraq), Refugee Case Worker, Harisonburg
Geeta Ghimirey (Bhutan), Charlottesville
Kathy Tran (Vietnam), Elected Official, Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates, Springfield
Mezekir Zemenfes (Eritrea), Community Leader, Harrisonburg
Suleman Rashidi (Afghanistan), Annandale
Yasmine Taeb (Iran), Human Rights Attorney and Senior Policy Counsel, Center for Victims of Torture
Washington
Aida Bound, Social Worker, Wenatchee
Dahir Omar (Somalia), Father and Community Advocate, Seattle
Dal Diyali (Bhutan), Senior Finance and HR Coordinator, Covington
Do Nguyen (Vietnam), Seattle
Linh Thai (Vietnam), Seattle
Nikki Chau (Vietnam), Seattle
Radmila Hidic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Finance Manager, Bothell
Sing Langh (Burma), Father/Community and Church Member, Auburn
Trang Tu (Vietnam), Seattle
Uyen Nguyen (Vietnam), Business Owner, Seattle