NEW YORK CITY– Today Voice for Refuge endorses Kamala Harris for President and Tim Walz for Vice President. “While this election cycle has shifted over the past few months, one thing has been clear: Donald Trump would be harmful to refugee communities if elected for a second term,” said Erol Kekic, Executive Director of Voice for Refuge Action Fund.
Vice President Harris has been a part of an administration that has restored refugee admission goals, extended humanitarian parole to keep families together, and demonstrated willingness to work with partners to continue to improve refugee resettlement. As the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, Harris has been an advocate for these communities, showing up at pro-refugee protests, rallies, and vigils, and co-sponsoring five pieces of pro-refugee legislation during her time as a Senator.
Her chosen running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota has also been a critical ally to refugee communities and elected leaders in his state. In the past 5 years as governor, Walz has refuted Trump’s rhetoric, wrote to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in defense of refugee communities integral to Minnesota, and supported legislation to improve access to driver’s licenses regardless of citizenship status. In a previous scorecard released by Voice for Refuge, Tim Walz scored a 12/15, ranking him a pro-refugee champion among governors.
“As Governor, Tim Walz has modeled what a pro-refugee champion can look like as a leader in his state. Under his leadership and by his partnership with refugee communities, Minnesota has set an example of welcoming legislation around the country,” Erol Kekic shared. “A Harris/Walz administration would continue the current valuable work of welcoming refugees.”
Since the Refugee Act of 1980, the U.S. has welcomed about 3 million individuals seeking safety and has allowed them to call this country home. This legacy of welcome is evidenced not only in our ongoing work to welcome those facing displacement today, it endures as hundreds of thousands of former refugees, now U.S. citizens, vote this November. This election offers voters a clear choice between a Trump/Vance administration that will revert to harmful threats against immigrants and anti-refugee extremism versus a Harris/Walz administration that will continue to respect our commitments to refugee resettlement and welcoming those seeking safety. Voice for Refuge encourages all voters to denounce Trump and Vance’s lies about refugees and to support the Harris/Walz ticket on November 5.
Read the full endorsement, including the research and records we considered.
About Voice for Refuge: Voice for Refuge is the first 501(c)4 organization created to advance pro-refugee policies at the national, state, and local level and to hold elected leaders accountable to upholding America’s legacy of welcome. Voice for Refuge is educating the public about the benefits of refugee resettlement, advocating for pro-refugee policies in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, and increasing civic engagement among refugees through non-partisan voter education. Voice for Refuge will also promote the representation of refugees in government by supporting former refugees and pro-refugee candidates running for office at the national, state, and local level. For more information or to get involved visit voiceforrefuge.org or contact info@voiceforrefuge.org.
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