As we have reported,  it does not look promising that Nilofar and her family will be able to come to Bucks County as we had so hoped.  In addition to the restrictions in the United States, last week the Pakistani government announced that any Afghan refugees still in Pakistan have until March 31st to leave or they will risk deportation back to Afghanistan.  Given this, BCICRR is exploring other options to help the family get to safety even if it is not in the United States.  As we learn more about what these options are and our ability to support them, we will keep you posted.

In addition we received a letter from HIAS last week detailing three different ways we might support other  families.  These three ways include (1) Special Immigrant Visa holders who have already been granted approval to come to the United States if they can arrange self-travel, (2) Special Immigrant Visa holders who have recently arrived in the U.S. and are not able to get resettlement support from resettlement agencies due to the stop work orders, or (3) Refugees who recently arrived in the U.S. through traditional resettlement, who local resettlement agencies don’t have the capacity to serve due to the stop work orders.  Similar to the situation with Nilofar and her family, we are exploring these options and intend to learn more about how we can participate.

The BCICRR Steering Committee will research both of these situations and hold another meeting in two weeks time.  At this point, we will be in a position to make some decisions and will come back to you, our BCICRR community, with more information.  Until then we ask that you hold all immigrants and refugees around the world in your thoughts and in your prayers.  Thank you for standing with us in this fight.