Catholic Charities’ Senior Vice President of Programs, Natalie Wood, joined other members of the Houston Refugee Consortium and Mayor Sylvester Turner in a news conference to voice strong opposition to a proposal that would slash the number of refugees who can find safety in America.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the Houston Refugee Consortium are calling on Congress to over-ride the Administration’s plan to drastically cut refugee admissions to the U.S. in the coming fiscal year and restore the number to historic norms by setting a refugee admissions goal of 95,000.
In addition to cutting refugee admissions to 18,000 – a historically low number and far less than the current already-reduced limit of 30,000 – President Trump signed an executive order that permits state and local officials to block refugee resettlement in their communities.
“Because our faith compels us to welcome the stranger, Catholic Charities provides support for new arrivals who often come to us with nothing more than a bag of belongings and no resources for coping with life in a new country,“ said Natalie Wood, Catholic Charities’ Senior Vice President of Programs. “We are deeply distressed and concerned about the safety and well being of the many individuals waiting to escape from countries in circumstances that threaten their lives.”
The Consortium asks both the White House and Congress to reinstate refugee admissions to a more humane level. Members of Congress can show their support by co-sponsoring the GRACE Act (H.R.2146, S.1088), which would set the minimum annual refugee admissions goal to the previous level.
Individuals can help by contacting their members of Congress.
Contact information is available online at www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative. Or call Texas Senators John Cornyn (202-224-2934) or Ted Cruz (202-224-5922).