Faith-based groups counter fear of refugees

Religious groups pushed back against a wave of opposition toward Syrian refugees and are working to preserve the United States as a haven for them.

“We’re really in emergency mode,” said Jen Smyers, director of policy and advocacy for the Immigration and Refugee Program at Church World Service, one of the nine U.S. nonprofits that work with the federal government to resettle refugees. “We are sending letters and petitions and making phone calls to all the governors as well as to members of Congress right now . . . to make sure they understand just how important the resettlement program is.”

The Refugee Resettlement Program—which relies mostly on faith-based organizations to find homes, jobs, and schools for refugees—came under attack after the attacks by ISIS in Paris on November 13 that killed 129 people.