By: Gerd Renno, Refugee Ministry

Sunday, June 20, is World Refugee Day when we recognize people who had to flee their homelands to escape persecution and violence. Our TVLC Refugee Welcome Team works with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest to give refugees who are accepted and legally admitted by the U.S. State Department a fresh start in Tucson.

The GRACE Act comes before Congress in July. Its goal is to protect and secure the U.S. resettlement program and ensure a minimum level of refugees are accepted annually into the United States. By doing this, plans can be made to properly handle and resettle refugees.

We are asking for your help to contact your congressional representatives and ask them to support the GRACE act.  It can be easily done by using this link.

Part of the GRACE act also covers a special concerns provision that would help Afghans who worked with U.S. forces and are at great risk by the planned U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in September.

Our team just welcomed one of those families to Tucson in May. The husband worked with U.S. forces and speaks some English. They are eager to start a new life and will do well in the U.S.

For more information, follow this link or contact Jim and Joyce Swinehart, Barbara Warrilow, Diane Deutsch, Gerd and Kathy Renno, or Sue Jensen.