URGENT CALL

Credible reports indicate that the Administration may place a hold on refugee resettlement this week, possibly as soon as Jan. 25th at 11 am. Each day, vulnerable refugees who have been accepted for U.S. resettlement board commercial flights for the United States. No matter when an executive order is signed, refugees who have already departed will lose their admissibility while they are mid-air.

The International Refugee Assistance Project is working with local resettlement agencies to identify airports where refugees are scheduled to land in the next several days. Should an executive order revoke their admissibility, CBP may attempt to place these refugees in detention or expedited removal. We are seeking attorneys, immediately, who can go to the airports at which refugees are scheduled to enter the United States to support arriving refugees in credible fear interviews. (Resources on CFIs are here and here).

Credible fear interviews are brief interviews that determine whether the individual has a "credible fear" of harm in their country of origin. We will provide letters for you arguing that USCIS has already determined that each of these refugees meets the refugee/asylum definition, so the credible fear interview should be almost a formality. And we will be available for support and trouble shooting.

The airports where we anticipate needing attorneys (so far) over the next two days are: Newark, Washington-Dulles, JFK, LAX, O'Hare, and Miami.

If you are willing and able to assist, please fill out this google form and IRAP will be in touch.

Questions can go to bheller@refugeerights.org and bfisher@refugeerights.org