New York City—Voice for Refuge Action Fund today announced the hire of immigration advocate and former refugee Mustafa Jumale as its Political Director. Jumale joins Voice for Refuge after serving as policy manager for Black Alliance for Immigration Justice (BAJI).

“We are thrilled to have Mustafa join Voice for Refuge and work with us to achieve more representation for refugee communities and support for pro-refugee policies,” said Voice for Refuge Executive Director Erol Kekic. “His diverse experience in government, advocacy and in building diverse coalitions at the local and national levels will help grow Voice for Refuge into a movement for change.”

“Since the election of President Trump, we have seen the devastating blows to the refugee resettlement program, the deconstruction of the asylum process, especially at our southern border, and the many lives that have been lost and delayed due to the racist and xenophobic immigration policies of this Administration,” said Jumale. “Voice for Refuge is the vehicle for change we need to empower impacted communities, helping them to run for office and get directly involved with their local, state, and federal bodies to change the toxic policies of the past four years and to advocate for a brighter future.”

Jumale has more than a decade of experience working in policy, advocacy and organizing. As policy manager at BAJI he led campaigns to renew Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from Somalia, Liberia, Haiti and South Sudan while also working to challenge mass criminalization and unjust enforcement of immigration laws. He is also a co-founder of Black Immigrant Collective. Previously he worked as a staffer for former Rep. Keith Ellison in the House of Representatives, in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and as an immigrant community organizer. Born in Somalia and raised in Minnesota, Jumale holds a degree in Sociology and African American & African Studies from the University of Minnesota. He was a 2015-2016 Humphrey Policy Fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Policy.

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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