Church World ServiceImmigration & Refugee Program

LANCASTER

Stephanie Gromek, MSDevelopment and Communications Coordinator

U.S. Refugee Resettlement Agencies

• Ethiopian Community Development Council

• Episcopal Migration Ministries

• Hebrew Immigration Aide Society

• International Rescue Committee

• Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services

• U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

• World Relief

Together over 200 local affiliates throughout the U.S.

Refugees + ImmigrantsWho are they and what are the social and economic contributions made within our community?

Refugees…are people who flee their country

because of a well-founded fear of persecution, based on their

➢Race

➢Religion

➢Nationality

➢Political opinion or

➢Membership in a particular social group

and who are unable or unwilling to return home.

- Defined at the 1951United Nations Convention on Refugees

Immigrants

Many immigrants come to the US for economic and educational opportunities.

Immigrant visas are available for individuals (and their spouses and children) who seek to immigrate based on their job skills.

An individual who has the combination of skills, education, and/or work experience, and is otherwise eligible, may be able to live permanently in the United States.Lancaster County Courthouse,

November 15th, 2019

Other Population Groups

➢Refugee

➢Asylee or Asylum Seeker

➢Unaccompanied

➢Displaced Person

➢Immigrant

➢Undocumented

➢Migrant

Refugees: The Numbers

25.9 million refugees around the world

&

70.8 Million Displaced People (Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced People)

Fact: Refugees Are the Single Most Vetted Individuals Entering Into the US

Fact: Refugees are legal permanent residents eligible to work in the US

➢Refugees in the United States can become legal permanent residents ➢Green Card after one year

➢Citizenship at 5 years from date of arrival

➢Refugees are legally eligible to work and become contributing members of our

communities starting on their first day in the U.S.

While refugee policyis often framed as ahumanitarian or safetyissue, it is often theeconomic impact ofrefugees that leavesthe most enduringimpression.From Struggle to Resilience | Executive SummaryNew American Economy1

Changing the Narrative:

Contributions: Economic and Social

Contributions: Economic Value

Growth in the foreign-born population

accounted for 8% of overall

population growth for Lancaster

during this period.

Economic Contributions

Lancaster Sweet Shoppe (Stroopies)

Nepali Spice Company

Saife’s Middle

Eastern Food

in Lancaster

Central

Market

Economic Contributions

In 2016, the New York Post proclaimed

Lancaster “the new Brooklyn.” Even in the

old Brooklyn, you can spot people

sporting T-shirts with the logos

of Lancaster businesses. –NY Times, 2019

Contributions: Social Value

“They've all faced similar situations where they've been forced to flee, and (the tournament) is a uniting thing for them.”

Coming: Summer 2020

Do you want to be a part of this? Who are we and what do we do?

Work with us!

Lancaster Programs

CWS Lancaster has three main programs with several smaller programs

within each– totaling up to 5 years of service and support

➢Resettlement

- Resettlement, Family Wellness, Housing and Cultural Navigation

➢Employment

- Employment Orientation and Training, Vocational ESL, Workplace ESL

➢Immigration Legal Services

- Citizenship and Integration, Immigration Legal Service, Unaccompanied Minor Legal Defense, Know Your Rights

Workplace ESL Program

➢Event Sponsorships and Partnerships

Be a part of the Welcome➢Donate

➢Educate

➢Participate

➢Advocate

Keep In Touch and Up to Date

cwslancaster.org