News from the Week of April 3^rd:

Here’s another round-up of what we’ve been reading and watching, from the news and around the web.

This week the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Trump Administration’s request for expedited review of the revised travel ban. The court will set the hearing for sometime in May to examine a Hawaii judge’s ruling that the order was discriminatory based on religion.

Human Rights First released a statement this week that senators need to question Secretary John Kelly on upholding commitments to refugees and asylum seekers. “The United States can both safeguard its borders while also complying with its legal treaty obligations with respect to refugees and asylum seekers.”

VFAI leader Arti Walker-Peddakotla writes that we need to keep advocating for refugees, especially at the state and local level: “For the sake of our country, the ideals, and the values we all share, we must never lose hope that our similarities as a multicultural, diverse people can weave a fabric so strong that hate simply cannot tear it apart.”

VFAI members met with congressional candidate Jon Ossoff to talk about Special Immigrant Visas, refugees and American Ideals ahead of the upcoming special election in Georgia’s 6^th District.  VFAI hopes to meet with all the candidates before voters hit the polls.

Abdul was a Special Immigrant Visa holder that was detained at Newark Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on March 13^th.  Now he is being held at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey.  Abdul supported U.S. troops in Afghanistan, risking his life to do so. Unfortunately, as the SIV program is threatened, there are many stories like Abdul’s. Take action now to urge your elected representatives to support our wartime allies.

Refugees renew America. After being granted asylum in Connecticut, Syrian refugee Renaz began volunteering to give back to her new community:“Renaz and her family are what refugees are, somebody who would come and volunteer at a school for a year.”

This week’s Veteran+ spotlights Lance Sellon, a veteran, chaplain, and father. “As a chaplain and as a person of faith, when it comes to refugees, when it comes to people in desperate circumstances… advocating is a no brainer.”

Have reactions to share, or want to learn how you can get involved in our efforts to raise veteran voices in support of refugees? Find us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us at [email protected]