Fathers and Families
This year, Father’s Day and World Refugee Day both fall on June 20th. Today, we want to acknowledge the importance of fathers and families in refugee resettlement.
Fathers around the world want the best for their families. Refugee fathers like Hayal, recently settled in Lebanon with his wife and three young children, explains that “What I care about the most is to keep my family under one roof where the kids can be warm, where they can eat, where they can study, and be safe.” The USA for UNHCR tells the stories of Hayal and other fathers building a better future for their children, no matter the circumstance.
That commitment towards providing a safe and loving environment doesn’t stop when fathers and their families are resettled. In the U.S., countless fathers work tirelessly to ensure a smooth resettlement, while also working to keep their heritage alive. Renowned Hmong-American chef Yia Vang reflects on his father’s sacrifice to provide him with the life he lives today, and how reconnecting to his Hmong heritage helped him grow a newfound respect for and connection with his father.
Popular opinion on immigrant resettlement in the U.S. is pivoting. President Biden recently raised the refugee resettlement cap to 65,000 for 2021, after pressure from concerned citizens and NGOs such as those in our Network to stay true to his campaign promise. And a recent poll conducted by the International Rescue Committee found that a majority of Americans (56%) now favor resettlement of at least 95,000 refugees annually. Nowhere is this change in sentiment more apparent than at the U.S. border with Mexico, where a growing number of asylum seeking families are being admitted into the U.S. The Biden administration plans to gradually increase the number of asylees admitted over time.
This World Refugee month, we acknowledge the importance of fathers and families, and the significance of public opinion and awareness on resettlement policy and family cohesion. May our fathers always be with their families and may we always stand behind them.
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