On Sunday, January 29th, I stood in solidarity and voiced my personal support for immigrants, refugees, and other displaced people along with nearly one thousand fellow attendees. I had the amazing opportunity and privilege to attend a candlelight vigil at the steps of the Sterling Memorial Library located in the heart of the Yale, New Haven community.  With candles in hand and passion in our hearts, we spoke words of peace, justice, and equality loud and clear, lighting the night with our flickering flames and sharing our message of hope for the safety and acceptance of immigrants and refugees within the United States. A brilliant projection of the word “Solidarity” blazed over the surface of the massive library for everyone to see.

There are roughly 21 million refugees in the world today and countless more immigrants (about 42.4 million as of 2014). They have suffered persecution at the expense of their race, religion, nationality, social group, and political opinion and for that reason, they unfortunately must run and hide from their oppressors and the forces that seek to tear them down.  No one chooses to be a refugee—no one wants to be forced to leave their homes, their lives, and their families in order to find safety but in times as dire as these, so many people must.  They have been forced to flee their home counties—such as Afghanistan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and more—and wait many years for the chance to begin a new life in the “land of the free,” a place where they hope to be greeted with love, acceptance, and support—the true American dream.  These people are refugees and immigrants, our newest Americans, and our oldest tradition.

New Haven, Connecticut has established itself as a “sanctuary city,” priding itself, as Mayor Toni Harp states, on being “a welcoming city, recognizing all of its residents,” no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they believe.   By definition, a sanctuary city takes to adopting a policy that prioritizes protecting immigrants and refugees in all circumstances. They protect citizens that are undocumented rather than prosecuting them for violating federal immigration laws within the United States. New Haven’s police departments refrain from questioning people in regards to their immigration status as well as not detaining people on behalf of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  JUNTA is an organization that aims to provide services, programs, and advocacy that improves social, political, and economic conditions for immigrants living within the New Haven community. Ana Maria Rivera-Forastieri, JUNTA’s director of advocacy and program development, supports, “Immigrants pay taxes, they build businesses, they have families here.  They are part of our community.  [Though] there is this misconception that immigrants drain our system, [rather], they are contributing to our system…” and it is so important that their vital role within our communities is recognized, understood, and appreciated.

With this aim in mind, Chris George and the IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services) Agency, hailing from the greater New Haven area since its conception 1982, seeks to develop this sanctuary city even further and contribute heavily to the efforts involved in allowing immigrant and refugee families to make their way into the United States without too much trouble.  Last year alone, the U.S. government invited 85,000 women, men, and children to become American citizens—but they were not given a free ride. They took out loans to pay their airfare to the U.S., they arrived legally, fully documented, and with many skills, but often without much money nor the ability to speak, write, read, or even understand English. More times than not, these families feel lost despite the hope of beginning a new life, one filled with many opportunities and light.  With that in mind, IRIS began with a plan to help deflate the sense of hopelessness and fear among refugee and immigrant families. Of those countless refugees and immigrants fighting to find peace, refuge, and safety, 600 arrived in Connecticut and were greeted by IRIS with love and support. They could find solace, security, support, and guidance during their transition period into American life through the agency’s many programs, such as housing, education services (including courses in terms of the English language and citizenship), legal assistance, job preparation and search, and so much more. Their needs are significant and IRIS has been their primary resource for lifesaving support as they begin to rebuild their lives and transition to life in the United States.

In aiming to increase awareness and spread solidarity and support for immigrant and refugee families living in the great New Haven area, IRIS and other non-profits organized a candlelight vigil in which the voices of those struggling could be heard and amplified, the struggles that they face could be brought to light to encourage help, and love could be shown.  Through events such as the candlelight vigil held in their honor, such may allow these immigrants to feel the love and acceptance exuding from the New Haven streets and hopefully they may begin to feel much more at home.  As IRIS and countless other organizations and non-profits do what they can, it is also important that we have the intention to help refugees, immigrants, and other displaced people to establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities.

Find out more about how you can help locally through IRIS here: http://irisct.org.