The latest: The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has come to a complete halt and will remain frozen until the President issues a new refugee admissions target for Fiscal Year 2026.
The target is expected to be set at 7,500 with the majority of slots reserved for Afrikaners, per New York Times and Reuters reporting. This figure would represent a historic low and leave refugees fleeing displacement crises around the world stranded, including the over 100,000 who were conditionally approved for resettlement when the indefinite refugee ban went into effect in late January 2025.
ICE shoots clergy with pepper balls and one minister sues; National Guard arrives to Chicago.
A video of ICE shooting a praying minister in the head with a pepper ball went viral on X yesterday. The minister, Reverend David Black of First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, has joined a lawsuit challenging immigration enforcement’s response to protests in his community.
Other clergy have also been shot multiple times with pepper bullets while praying outside of detention facilities near Chicago.
Multiple faith-based protesters believe that their religious freedom is threatened and violated by the violence. There are now approximately 500 National Guard members in the Chicago area, despite an ongoing lawsuit and the Illinois governor’s opposition.
Lawsuit challenges implementation of new annual asylum fee.
On October 3, the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) filed a lawsuit challenging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) and Executive Office of Immigration Review’s (EOIR) implementation of the new $100 annual asylum fee. The lawsuit seeks to stop USCIS and EOIR from dismissing or denying asylum applications based on failure to pay the fee, especially in light of widespread concern arising from EOIR neglecting to establish a functional payment system. In a press release, asylum seeker Jeff said, “I’m frustrated the government has taken so long to decide my case, and now they want to charge me for their delay. The government hasn’t told me when or how to pay, and I’m scared that if I miss my window, they will dismiss my asylum application.”
Sign the Petition: Urge Congress to Support Refugees in 2025
Judge finds ICE’s warrantless arrests violate consent decree and federal law.
On Tuesday, a federal judge found that ICE arrested nearly two dozen people this year without warrants in violation of a 2022 consent decree. The Castañon Nava consent decree bars ICE from arresting people without warrants or probable cause. The judge extended this consent decree to February 2026 and ordered ICE to disclose the number of immigrants subjected to warrantless arrest moving forward.
A filing from the National Immigrant Justice Center and the ACLU of Illinois describes how people were “grabbed by federal agents while walking in their neighborhoods; snatched from Home Depot parking lots; pulled from their cars during traffic stops; taken away from their minor children; and woken in the early hours of the morning by federal agents, accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who used an explosive device to break open the door of their home.”
When we invest in the most vulnerable, we empower them to dream big and reach their goals.
Together, we can light the way for future generations, ensuring they have food, voice, a safe home, access to education and the opportunity to thrive.
0
Individuals
across 11 countries have gained better access to safe water and sanitation at home
0
Individuals
participated in CWS livelihoods programs and received vocational training, seeds and livestock, among other activities
0
Refugees
individuals were resettled or processed for U.S. resettlement.
Accountability & Financials
Tax Deductible Contributions
CWS adheres to all guidelines for humanitarian assistance mandated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. CWS has a long relationship with the Sphere project, a common set of international standards used in disaster response. Both set a strong mandate for appropriate standards in providing humanitarian assistance, and specifically prohibit proselytizing.