In the home where President Trump lived as a young child—now for rent—we invited refugees who escaped conflict and persecution to share their stories, and be heard.
As world leaders gather in New York for the United Nation’s General Assembly, Oxfam and refugees resettled in the United States from Syria, Somalia, and Vietnam gathered in Queens, New York—in the childhood home of President Trump—to send an unequivocal message to world leaders: refugees are welcome here.
Millions of families around the world have been forced to flee their homes in order to survive, creating the world’s worst displacement crisis since World War II. In this moment, what better place to show world leaders the value of a safe, welcoming home for those fleeing unthinkable situations than the childhood home of the US president. Oxfam invited refugees here to share their stories and call for greater action by the US government and governments around the world to resettle and help refugees.
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The home was made available for rent earlier this year. Oxfam rented the house during an unprecedented moment in recent US history when all three branches of the US government will soon be making critical decisions that will impact the lives of millions of refugees. The choices made in the coming weeks by President Trump, Congress, and the Supreme Court could determine whether the US lives up to its historical values and continues to be a haven for people facing oppression and crisis.
In the coming weeks, President Trump will announce his decision on the number of refugees the US will resettle in 2018. Congress will finalize spending bills, which determine the level of financial support the federal government will dedicate to aiding and resettling refugees. And the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the President’s unconstitutional refugee and Muslim ban.
It has never been more important for Americans to use their voice to let their government know that refugees are welcome here. A cornerstone of the founding values of the US was to offer oppressed people refuge from violence and persecution. Now as Americans we must open our minds, hearts, and communities to vulnerable refugees who are seeking a safe place to call home.
Send your letter to President Trump and Congress now and tell them that welcoming refugees is an American value.