Once again I write urging you to give urgent attention to the  crisis of the material support bar which continues to plague the US refugee program.  I need not review with you the provisions of the Patriot Act which are the legal basis of the material support bar, now a part of our immigration system that denies some of the world�s most deserving refugees access to US resettlement. 

This crisis is now compounded by the fact that there are over 1400 cases involving refugees seeking to adjust status on hold because of the material support bar.  There are nearly 500 asylum cases also on hold because of their connection to the material support bar. These numbers will increase with each passing day.  Most recently, I have learned that some on the House side are using the material support bar as a pretext for under funding the admissions program for FY2007.  Their contention is that the material support bar will hamper the ability of the US Government to reach the 70,000 numbers set forth in the Presidential Determination. Each category of adversely affected persons could be documented with individual stories of suffering and pain from those who are now being victimized further by being denied the safety and protection to which they are entitled.  All of this because of an ill-conceived piece of legislation which neither the Congress nor the Administration has had the will to change. 

I ask that you use the Congressional recess as the occasion to reach out to your representatives to tell them about this ridiculous law and its pernicious impact on those whom we serve and for whom we advocate.  The Refugee Council web site is replete with information which can buttress your advocacy.  Be in touch with me if you want help in framing the message or in seeking avenues through which to make the case for ending this barrier to a robust resettlement program.

Most importantly, I urge you to look around your community to find cases whose stories would underscore the absurdity of this new wrinkle in immigration policy.  Are there former refugees who are now citizens whose entry to the US would have been barred had they had to wrestle with the material support bar?  Are there those in your community who cannot now adjust status to permanent residence because of the material support bar? Is there a compelling asylum case in your midst which cannot go forward because of the material support bar?  Personal accounts of suffering and hardship always make advocacy more convincing. 

Have you approached other voluntary agency colleagues about organizing locally to address the issue?  Have you made your state refugee coordinator aware of your concern about the impact of the material support bar?  At a recent SCORR conference, our state agency colleagues expressed an interest in being a part of RCUSA�s advocacy around this issue.  I have extended an invitation to Charles Shipman, the new SCORR president, to enlist his colleagues in this effort and have encouraged state agencies to be partners in advocating on this issue.  We are also working with national MAAs to enlist their support since they can readily offer examples of persons in their respective ethnic communities who are feeling the brunt of the material support bar.  We need affiliate offices to be engaged in telling the story of how the material support bar could dismantle the US refugee program.

I know that some of you do not find it easy or convenient to do advocacy.  The daily challenge of operating your programs leaves little time for visits to district offices or contacting the media.  However, nothing has so seriously threatened the US refugee program since 9/11 as the material support bar; and it�s still out there.

We have managed to get waivers for some Karen and Chin Burmese refugees; but these waivers do not include all of the deserving refugees who need resettlement.  Moreover, the waiver process is convoluted and time consuming and is a band aid when a more radical fix is needed.  We believe that we have that fix in legislation introduced by Congressperson James Pitts ® of Pennsylvania.  Getting your representatives to endorse this legislation with personal accounts of the affect of material support on your clients and your program would be a good step to take as you plan your local advocacy strategy.

RCUSA is already planning a national campaign to address the material support issue.  You will hear more about this in the coming days.  In the meantime, there is much that can happen now; and you can make it happen.  If you only do advocacy occasionally, let this be one of the occasions.

Sincerely,

C. Richard Parkins
Director
Episcopal Migration Ministries