News from the week of February 27:

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

Although initial reports indicated that a revised executive order on immigration and refugees would be released this week, Politico reports that a senior administration official indicated that it the order will be delayed.

In response to the reports of the contents of the Administration's new executive order, VFAI’s Joe Jenkins responds to the new policy, focusing on how it may affect Iraqis, “President Trump should do right by our Iraqi allies and not suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, which is vital to protecting those who have served our shared mission faithfully.”

Last weekend, NBC Nightly News featured VFAI allies No One Left Behind as they continue helping Iraqis who served with U.S. troops to settle into life in the United States. As No One Left Behind founder Matt Zeller says, “the American people ought to be known as a people who welcome and thank the those that stood with us.”

Also, we revisit the story of VFAI leader, Emir Hadzic, a Marine Corps veteran and a Bosnian refugee, who sat down talk to tell his story last fall. When it comes to the current political climate, Hadzic says, “We are more vulnerable from destroying ourselves by forgetting our values.” Let's not forget that.

In other news, a South Sudanese refugee, Abeny Kucha, tells her story of fleeing violence in East Africa to resettle in Portland, Maine. For Kucha, being resettled was like coming home again. “Home means hope to me. Home means I would never, ever run again.”

Also last week, we shared an article about the rigorous screening process refugees that all refugees go through. For an in-depth primer of this intense system, Quartz interviews a Syrian refugee resettled in the United States about his own experience. After the twelve-step screening, Mustafa Hassoun says,“The American government knows more about me than anyone else in the world, than my mom, my dad, my closest friends.”

On a lighter note, new reporting shows that struggling towns are being revitalized by refugee communities. In Akron, Ohio, refugees are reviving the struggling housing market, growing what was a declining population, and starting new businesses. “We’ve been the land of opportunity, and that’s one of the ways we can grow our population by being attractive to immigrants and refugees,” says the Akron Mayor.

Despite these success stories, the Trump Administration’s immigration policy will target immigrants accused of minor crimes, or in some cases, no crimes at all. Former special assistant to the director of ICE Timothy Kistner writes about the consequences of the president’s immigration policy, calling it a “moral failure” in how it will affect immigrant communities’ willingness to go to the police, “The bottom line is simple: The Trump Administration policy is a recipe for increased crime and greater gang influence in our communities.” 

In response, VFAI members urge Americans to come together around our commitment to the ideals enshrined in our Constitution, reminding America that we are a nation that extends its hand to the victims of conflict and oppression. Members remind us all that “We are one America.”

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