Last week, IRAP sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Tracy Renaud, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director at U.S. Citizenship... read more →
Blog
IRAP Advocacy Week Brings Together Students From 19 Law School Chapters To Meet With Their Legislators
By Ary Hansen and Stephanie Bauer From February 16–19, IRAP hosted its fourth annual Advocacy Week, bringing 48 students from... read more →
February 25, 2021
Busting Myths about Forced Migrants: Seeking Asylum in the United States
“Busting Myths about Forced Migrants'' is a new blog series authored by student volunteers from IRAP’s law school chapters. Each... read more →
February 3, 2021
IRAP Alumni Spotlight: Samah Sisay
This is the seventeenth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have... read more →
January 29, 2021
Busting Myths about Forced Migrants: Refugee Admissions to the United States
“Busting Myths about Forced Migrants'' is a new blog series authored by student volunteers from IRAP’s law school chapters. Each... read more →
January 4, 2021
IRAP Database of U.S. Government Contracts Provides Vital Tool For SIV Applicants
The United States’ presence in Afghanistan has relied on the life-saving assistance of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans who risked... read more →
November 2, 2020
Connection and Community Lawyering: Impressions from IRAP’s Virtual Student Summit
Naomi Santesteban is a 1L JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School and is serving as Co-Director of Communications at... read more →
October 8, 2020
By Ary Hansen and Stephanie Bauer From February 16–19, IRAP hosted its fourth annual Advocacy Week, bringing 48 students from 19 law school chapters to meet with members of Congress... read more →
“Busting Myths about Forced Migrants'' is a new blog series authored by student volunteers from IRAP’s law school chapters. Each month, a different IRAP chapter will dispel a common misconception... read more →
This is the seventeenth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice.... read more →
“Busting Myths about Forced Migrants'' is a new blog series authored by student volunteers from IRAP’s law school chapters. Each month, a different IRAP chapter will dispel a common misconception... read more →
The United States’ presence in Afghanistan has relied on the life-saving assistance of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans who risked danger to serve alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and contractors. In... read more →
Naomi Santesteban is a 1L JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School and is serving as Co-Director of Communications at Osgoode Hall’s IRAP Chapter during the 2020-2021 academic year. [caption... read more →
This is the sixteenth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet... read more →
Anna-Theresa Unger is a 2020 graduate from Sarah Lawrence College and was the Policy and Communications Intern at IRAP during the 2019-2020 academic year. As the novel coronavirus spreads throughout... read more →
For more than a decade, the Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programs have provided a pathway to safety for Iraqis and Afghans whose service alongside U.S. forces, diplomats,... read more →
This is the fifteenth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet... read more →
IRAP obtained USCIS’ guidance on humanitarian parole and significant public benefit parole through a Freedom of Information Act request. The 2017 USCIS International Operations Officers’ Training Course provides guidance to... read more →
On Friday the 21st of February, IRAP held its annual Advocacy Day where we welcomed 60 students from IRAP law school chapters to Capitol Hill. Students gathered from all across... read more →
Afkab, a Somali refugee who was resettled in the United States in 2015, has waited for more than four years to live with his family in safety. Afkab’s wife was... read more →
This week, IRAP and co-counsel, on behalf of its plaintiffs in the lawsuit, reached a settlement with the U.S. Government in JFS v Trump. The lawsuit challenged an agency memo... read more →
This is the fourteenth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Mariana Olaizola, former... read more →
From December 16-19, 2019, IRAP participated in a fact-finding delegation to investigate the situation of refugees in Mexico, which was organized by Alianza Américas and Refuge for Families. Mariko Hirose,... read more →
Last weekend, IRAP held its annual Student Summit at the offices of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City. Chapter leaders from IRAP’s law school chapters from... read more →
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Miles4Migrants (M4M) proudly announce their new partnership that will secure air transportation for refugees seeking to reunite with their families in a safe... read more →
This is the thirteenth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Alex Zetes, former... read more →
Marhub and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) are excited to announce the launch of Mona, a chatbot designed to provide legal information in Arabic and English to refugees who... read more →
This is the twelfth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Yekaterina Reyzis, former... read more →
On Tuesday evening, more than 700 people crowded the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall for IRAP’s first-ever benefit event, IRAP Tonight with John Oliver.... read more →
Law students from IRAP chapters throughout the United States gathered in Washington, D.C. last month for IRAP’s annual Advocacy Day. The day’s agenda was packed with over 40 meetings with... read more →
The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) are excited to announce our partnership to bring systemic litigation on behalf of asylum seekers and other... read more →
As one of the world’s leading companies in language learning, Rosetta Stone is a natural partner for IRAP’s global work on behalf of refugees. By making Rosetta Stone’s software available... read more →
This is the eleventh installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Catherine... read more →
This is the tenth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Joshua Pickar, former... read more →
On October 30, IRAP’s Litigation team traveled to San Francisco, CA for oral argument on their motion for preliminary injunction and the government’s motion to dismiss in S.A. v Trump,... read more →
On October 27, 2018, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh became the target of a mass shooter. The killer, motivated by anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant hatred, was specifically targeting a... read more →
On September 28, Mariko Hirose, IRAP’s Litigation Director, travelled to San Francisco to accept the Iranian American Bar Association’s (IABA) Community Service Award. The award was presented by Sougol Shooshtarian,... read more →
Becca Heller, Co-Founder and Executive Director of IRAP, has been named one of this year’s MacArthur Fellows. The very prestigious award, commonly known as the “Genius Grant”, recognizes Becca’s work... read more →
Nearly 150 students attended IRAP’s ninth annual Student Summit, where representatives from IRAP law school chapters across the United States and Canada participated in workshops and engaged with experts in... read more →
This is the ninth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Citlalli Ochoa, former... read more →
Sam* is an Iraqi refugee who worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Iraq. He has been living in hiding in Egypt since 2014. Sam is a pseudonym to protect... read more →
On Friday, June 22, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California heard oral arguments in response to a class action challenge to the unprecedented mass denials of... read more →
In anticipation of World Refugee Day, IRAP’s Director and Co-Founder, Becca Heller, was a guest on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah on Tuesday, June 19! During their interview, Heller... read more →
This is the eighth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Jay... read more →
Sam*, an Iraqi refugee and IRAP client, has been waiting to be resettled to the U.S. for over three years. However, when the refugee ban went into effect last October,... read more →
Sophia Nnadi is a first-year law student at American University Washington College of Law (WCL) and a member of the WCL IRAP chapter’s policy team. The views expressed here are... read more →
Today, marking the fifteenth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, IRAP launched a campaign calling on the Administration to protect our Iraqi wartime allies who remain in limbo in... read more →
IRAP recently concluded an annual student trip to our field office in Amman, Jordan, during which students gain hands-on experience working face to face with clients. The students then report... read more →
This is the seventh installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Sirine Shebaya, former member... read more →
Among the 65 million displaced persons around the world, every single one of them has a story. When Layla and her husband left their home in the Somali region of... read more →
Sophia Nnadi, a first-year law student at American University Washington College of Law (WCL), joined over thirty students from IRAP law school chapters across the country for IRAP's first Lobby... read more →
On October 7-8, almost 200 law students, legal and policy experts, and supporters attended IRAP’s Eighth Annual Student Summit - marking a record year of participation. This year’s summit featured... read more →
This is the sixth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Noor Hamadeh, former member... read more →
In honor of World Refugee Day, Becca Heller, IRAP’s Director, was invited to speak at Bad Robot Productions in Los Angeles for a “Good Talk”. Bad Robot, founded by acclaimed... read more →
In honor of World Refugee Day, we celebrate the resilience of our clients in their courageous journeys to seek safety and begin anew. The challenges refugees face are numerous and... read more →
In honor of World Refugee Day, IRAP is proud to be involved in initiatives calling for action to support the growing number of refugees around the world. During a time... read more →
This is the fifth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Jessica Caplin, former... read more →
IRAP recently concluded its annual student trips to our field office in Beirut, Lebanon, during which students gain hands-on experience working face to face with clients. The students then report... read more →
On Monday, May 8, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, heard oral argument in IRAP v. Trump. The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center... read more →
On Friday, April 21, IRAP was humbled to receive a Certificate of Recognition from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) for providing and organizing pro bono legal... read more →
On Friday, April 7th, IRAP’s Director, Becca Heller, had the honor in participating in the Women in the World Summit at Lincoln Center, alongside some of the world’s most inspiring changemakers. Becca... read more →
This is the fourth in a series of personal accounts written by Bader, an LGBT refugee and former IRAP client. Fleeing danger and unhappiness in his home country, Bader escaped... read more →
Today, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) at the Urban Justice Center published a policy report on the ongoing importance of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. The report comes... read more →
This is the fourth installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Alexis Federico,... read more →
Two of IRAP's clients, both resettled to the United States from Iraq, attended President Trump's first speech to Congress as guests of Members of Congress to represent those affected by the... read more →
IRAP recently concluded its annual student trip to our field office in Amman, Jordan, during which students gain hands-on experience working face to face with clients. The students then report... read more →
For travelers seeking info about the revised Executive Order signed on March 6, 2017, please read our Know-Your-Rights document (also available in عربي [Arabic] and in سى [Farsi]). For those who... read more →
In the seven days since President Trump's Executive Order freezing the refugee program and banning people from seven countries from entering the United States, IRAP has been proud to be... read more →
Our urgent call earlier today has been met with an incredible response - hundreds of lawyers have signed up to help. We have reached capacity and have therefore taken down the... read more →
This is the third in a series of personal accounts written by Bader, an LGBT refugee and current IRAP client. Bader is a 23-year-old who decided one day that he didn't... read more →
For years, IRAP has advocated on behalf of its clients to ensure that the United States upholds its humanitarian obligations regarding the plight of refugees. Our legal and policy work... read more →
Almost 150 law students, legal and policy experts, and supporters attended IRAP’s Annual Student Summit on October 8-9, marking another record year of participation. This year’s summit featured a highly anticipated... read more →
This October 8-9, for the seventh time since its inception, IRAP will welcome student leaders from across the United States to discuss solutions to the global refugee crisis with experts... read more →
While President Obama convened state leaders at the Leaders’ Summit for Refugees, the Concordia Summit’s Private Sector Forum on Migrants and Refugees gathered representatives from NGOs, private companies, and governments... read more →
This is the third installment of our Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Bonnie Doyle, Chair... read more →
On September 14, IRAP Director and Co-founder Becca Heller, was invited to speak at a panel event on The Refugee Crisis: Past and Present, organized by the Yale Alumni Nonprofit... read more →
Just in time for National Welcoming Week, and leading up to the UN Summits on refugees next week, the White House today hosted the event Welcoming Refugees: Honoring Refugee Integration... read more →
In the lead up to the refugee summits organized by both the United Nations General Assembly and President Obama, more than 40 organizations, including IRAP, have developed a postcard to be delivered... read more →
This is the second in a series of personal accounts written by Bader, an LGBT refugee and current IRAP client. Bader is a 23-year-old who decided one day that he didn't... read more →
IRAP is proud to have been chosen as one of four organizations to partner with the newly-established Interfaith Refugee Project. The Interfaith Refugee Project was created in response to the... read more →
This is the first in a series of personal accounts written by Bader, an LGBT refugee and current IRAP client. Bader is a 23-year-old who decided one day that he didn’t... read more →
This is the second installment of our new Alumni Spotlight series, which features interviews with former IRAP students who have become strong advocates and leaders in their fields of practice. Meet Ali... read more →
On May 18, the University of California, Irvine hosted its annual Anteater Awards to honor UC Irvine campus organizations. Of the 20 awards given out, UC Irvine’s IRAP chapter won the... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to share news of this week's premiere of After Spring at the Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary offers a rare, nuanced glimpse into life in Zaatari Camp, a refugee... read more →
This week, IRAP's co-founder and Director, Becca Heller, participated in the 2016 Women in the World Summit in New York City. It was an incredibly exciting series of events! On... read more →
IRAP is excited to announce the launch of Hamsa: A Documentary and Educational Platform! Produced in partnership with FoxWolf Productions and Change.org, the platform revolves around a short documentary about one woman’s... read more →
This evening, IRAP's Director and co-founder, Becca Heller, was awarded The Charles Bronfman Prize. The Charles Bronfman Prize recognizes young humanitarians whose work is inspired by their Jewish values and... read more →
This year, with the launch of IRAP's Alumni Association, we're thrilled to bring you a new Alumni Spotlight series! On our website and in our quarterly newsletter (make sure to join... read more →
Human Rights First today published an important report on the Syrian refugee crisis and the need for U.S. leadership. According to a press release from Human Rights First, the report... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to share the work of its student chapter at UC Berkeley School of Law, which recently published a substantive report and organized a panel following its participation... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to share the news that the Senate today blocked the American SAFE Act, which would have paused all resettlement of vulnerable Iraqi and Syrian refugees to the United... read more →
Earlier today, several IRAP clients and staff members were honored to meet with US Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, during her visit to Seton Hall University. The clients... read more →
Today, we're thrilled to share the final installment of Hassan Ahmad's reflections on the IRAP student trip to Beirut, Lebanon. If you've missed any of his previous three blog posts,... read more →
Below is the third of four blog posts written by Hassan Ahmad, one of IRAP's law students from UC Berkeley who is currently attending the annual trip in Beirut, Lebanon.... read more →
Today, we're excited to share the second installment of reflections from Hassan, a UC Berkeley Law student currently on the IRAP student trip in Lebanon. In this post, Hassan writes... read more →
A number of our law students are today preparing to fly to Beirut, Lebanon for the annual January trip, during which they will join our local staff to complete field work... read more →
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) condemns the horrific attacks on Paris and Beirut last week. We must not allow these attacks to prevent vulnerable Syrian refugees from reaching safety;... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to announce today's launch of our Think Globally, Act Locally Fundly campaign. For the next four weeks, our friends at Google have generously agreed to match your contribution,... read more →
Were you involved with IRAP in law school? If so, read on! IRAP is currently expanding its engagement with former student volunteers and creating new ways for law school alumni... read more →
This weekend, IRAP held its annual National Student Summit in New York City, hosted by the offices of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This year's Summit was the... read more →
Today, IRAP joined several other leading refugee organizations from Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) as an expert participant in a Twitter chat hosted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The chat... read more →
We're very excited to share this recording of an incisive panel discussion on the indispensable and often under-appreciated role played by foreign interpreters during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,... read more →
This morning, an IRAP client helped make history by courageously addressing the United Nations Security Council on the experience of LGBTI individuals facing the Islamic State (ISIS). His remarks -... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to announce an important step in its policy reform efforts to ensure access to counsel for refugees overseas. This week, the American Bar Association (ABA), with IRAP's support,... read more →
This week, we're featuring a guest blog post from IRAP's Intake Coordinator Betsy Fisher. Betsy attended the annual UNHCR-NGO Consultations in Geneva last month, along with IRAP's National Policy Director,... read more →
Today, the entire international community came together to celebrate World Refugee Day, an annual event intended to recognize the incredible courage of all those forced to escape their home countries.... read more →
We're thrilled to share today's announcement that Becca Heller, IRAP's Director and co-founder, is the 2015 recipient of the Charles Bronfman Prize. The Bronfman Prize of $100,000 is awarded on an annual... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to announce that, thanks to a recent partnership with LGBTI advocacy organization All Out, we will be able to provide immediate assistance for several of our most vulnerable... read more →
IRAP is currently hiring undergraduate interns to assist clients remotely with employment verification. Please share with anyone you think may be interested! Role and Responsibilities Undergraduate Interns will work directly... read more →
IRAP is recruiting current law students to come join us in our NYC office as part of our Fall 2015 Legal Internship. Please share with anyone you think might be... read more →
IRAP seeks a Legal Services Coordinator based in Amman to work with IRAP’s Jordan Program Director to provide legal assistance to vulnerable refugees in Jordan. Primary responsibilities: Conducting field interviews... read more →
The Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project ("IRAP") at the Urban Justice Center is looking to sponsor a law student for public interest fellowships for the year 2016-2017. Fellowship sponsorships would be... read more →
This week, IRAP launched a nationwide photo awareness campaign dubbed Breathe Free, featuring 14 portraits of IRAP clients who have successfully started safe, new lives in America. IRAP law students... read more →
This week, IRAP launched a nationwide photo awareness campaign dubbed Breathe Free, featuring 14 portraits of IRAP clients who have successfully started safe, new lives in America. IRAP law students... read more →
IRAP recently concluded its annual student trips to the Middle East, during which students gain hands-on experience working face to face with clients in Beirut and Amman. We're making an... read more →
Bassam is a former IRAP client who fled Iraq, and started a new life in New York a year ago. Today, we're honored to share his reflections on his first year... read more →
On Saturday, the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) teamed up with Sean Mullin, Writer and Director of the new feature film Amira & Sam, to help spread awareness about the plight... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to share the news that The Interpreters, an e-book about Afghan interpreters written by Ben Anderson of Vice, has been rated one of Longform's Best of 2014. IRAP's... read more →
IRAP is today featured in a France 24 article about the increasingly grave risks faced by LGBTI individuals living in Syria. France 24 reports that the Islamic State (ISIS) is currently... read more →
UPDATE: Thanks to all those who applied! We are no longer accepting applications for this role. IRAP is now seeking legal interns to work part-time in its NYC office during Spring... read more →
UPDATE: Thanks to all those who applied! We are no longer accepting applications for this role. IRAP is now seeking legal interns to work in its overseas offices during Summer 2015.... read more →
UPDATE: Thanks to all those who applied! We are no longer accepting applications for this role. IRAP is now seeking undergraduate interns for the coming spring and summer. If you're... read more →
This week, the World Food Program (WFP) - the food aid branch of the United Nations - announced the suspension of a voucher program that was providing food to 1.7... read more →
*DECEMBER 9 UPDATE: If you're looking for a way to ease the transition for Mohammad's family, consider gifting an essential item from the Amazon Wish List we've set up. Each of... read more →
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it is no longer conducting interviews for refugees in Lebanon. DHS expects the suspension to continue at least through Spring 2015. This... read more →
On November 1-2, student representatives from 23 of IRAP’s law school chapters, as well as attorneys, supporters, and pro bono coordinators, made their way to midtown Manhattan for IRAP’s National... read more →
Conflicts in Syria and Iraq have displaced millions of people. In a push to protect those forced to flee, HIAS has drafted a petition to President Obama requesting that the... read more →
This week U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a report titled “Afghanistan in Transition: The U.S. Civilian Presence and Assistance Post-2014.” The report considers... read more →
This week Faegre Baker Daniels announced that two consultants, Beena Patel and Joshua Andrews, would receive the 2014 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award for their work with IRAP. Beena and... read more →
Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) announced today that it will award IRAP and the American International Group Inc.’s (AIG) Global Legal, Compliance, Regulatory, and Government Affairs department (GLCR) with the 2014... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to share the incredible news that, through the steadfast support and dedication of over 130 donors, we have raised $87,935 through the Fundly online fundraising campaign, which will be doubled by Google, for... read more →
IRAP Recognized on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO: Translators Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight featured a hilarious and hard-hitting critique of the U.S. Government’s Special Immigrant... read more →
Nearly 50 members of Congress recently signed an open letter to President Obama urging him to ensure protection for LGBT immigrants. The letter identifies a number of uniquely dangerous circumstances... read more →
On Monday a bipartisan group of over 20 Representatives from across the United States sent a letter to President Obama advocating for the establishment of in-country refugee processing at the... read more →
On Thursday, one of IRAP’s Iraqi clients shared some words in support of IRAP’s current fundraising initiative. “If it wasn’t for IRAP, I wouldn’t be here in the US writing... read more →
On behalf of IRAP, thank you to everyone who has supported the current Fundly campaign. We have officially reached (and surpassed!) our first fundraising milestone of raising 20% of our... read more →
IRAP recently launched a Fundly fundraising campaign that will help bolster its efforts to support Iraqi and Afghan allies who assisted the United States. One of IRAP's clients, an Afghan... read more →
IRAP is now hiring an Operations and Communications Associate. If you're interested, please see below for full details. OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE, JOB DESCRIPTION About IRAP The Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project... read more →
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an article earlier today that detailed the more than two-year journey of an Iraqi man who was finally granted a Special Immigrant Visa after risking his... read more →
A New York Times Report published earlier today confirmed that the United States has launched airstrikes on at least two cities in Kurdish territory, where ISIS has cornered tens of thousands of... read more →
Al-Jazeera published an insightful and important Op-ed piece by Dr. Qanta Ahmed earlier this morning, detailing the horrifying effects of civil war on the healthcare systems of Syria and Iraq. President... read more →
IRAP is thrilled to announce that legislation resolving the issues surrounding the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program has been passed by the Senate, and now heads to President Barack Obama to... read more →
IRAP is excited to announce that the Emergency Afghan Allies Extension Act has made great progress in the House of Representatives, and should reach the Senate in the near future. We... read more →
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom published a short commentary on TheHill.com earlier today, in which she argued that Americans have a moral responsibility to bring... read more →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON — Lawyers from the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) at the Urban Justice Center have filed the first-ever suit to hold the U.S. Government accountable for... read more →
George Packer's comment in this week's New Yorker, entitled "Trapped in Iraq" discusses the tens of thousands of U.S.-affiliated Iraqis who are both waiting to get an interview after applying... read more →
The United Nations has begun planning for the imminent destabilization of the current nation of Iraq and is making preparations to deal with the expected humanitarian crisis, according to the... read more →
More than 1 million people have been displaced in Iraq, states a new UNHCR report. Many of those people are women and children, fleeing violence while men join the conflict,... read more →
The Washington Post published an article this morning that brought further attention to the current world refugee crisis. According to the UN, there are more than 50 million displaced persons... read more →
The sectarian violence that has rocked Iraq for nearly ten days continues to spread through the nation, following the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's path to the capital, Baghdad.... read more →
Republicans in the House Appropriations Committee outlined their $48.3 billion spending package last night, proposing the allocation of $3 billion to assist refugees, with reference to the crises in Syria,... read more →
The United States announced plans today to evacuate a substantial number of non-essential embassy workers from Baghdad, according to the New York Times, in light of the recent outbreak of... read more →
After seizing control of Mosul - Iraq's second-largest city - on Wednesday, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continued its campaign to reestablish a united Muslim caliphate in... read more →
Earlier today, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States would provide nearly $300 million in additional humanitarian aid for victims of the violence in Syria. Including this... read more →
Although violence between NATO forces and the Taliban has decreased substantially over the past few years, thousands of Afghan refugees continue to reside in refugee camps in neighboring countries, such... read more →
World Refugee Day is coming up, on Friday, June 20! First observed in 2001, World Refugee Day was created by the United Nations General Assembly with the express purpose of... read more →
The Los Angeles Times published an op-ed yesterday by Secretary of State John Kerry, in which he called on Congress to authorize the expansion of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)... read more →
The Afghan Allies Protection Extension Act was introduced in the House yesterday, after months of hard work. If passed, the Act will extend the current SIV program - which was... read more →
Two IRAP clients, Janis and Mohammad, were recognized today by Rep. Jim Moran, of Virginia's 8th District. Congressman Moran worked hard to get these two heroes their Special Immigrant Visas,... read more →
PBS NewsHour released a great video yesterday, detailing the hardships faced by Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants during their work with the United States. The piece also discusses the backlog... read more →
Yesterday, NPR published an excerpt of the upcoming book, "Code Name: Johnny Walker," along with an interview of the author, an Iraqi Navy SEAL interpreter who served the U.S. military... read more →
"THE UNITED States’ war effort in Afghanistan is to wind down this year, leaving a multitude of unanswered questions and plenty of loose ends. But the United States must not leave any... read more →
"Tucked into sparsely furnished offices in New York's Financial District, the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project is a remarkable program that is proving to be both a balm for our national honor and, in... read more →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2013 PRESS CONTACT Katherine Reisner 847.561.2676 (cell) kreisner@refugeerights.org IRAP HAILS BIPARTISAN REFORM OF VISA PROGRAMS FOR IRAQI AND AFGHAN ALLIES Heller: Congress has again proven that it... read more →
Please check out our 2012-2013 Report to Supporters to learn about how we have grown in the past two years, our current successes and service areas, and our plans for... read more →
IRAP in the New York Times : Door to U.S. May Be Closing for Iraqis Who Helped the American Military
"As a former interpreter for the American military, and as a gay man, Hassan says he is a focus of frequent discrimination by his fellow Iraqis. That is why Hassan,... read more →
As U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014, those who work as interpreters for the Americans will be forced out of the bases that protect them. Now one group is... read more →
"Lawyers at the nonprofit Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project work to secure visas for several hundred Afghan and Iraqi interpreters at a time. They say the approval process is complicated and... read more →
The truly incredible story of a guy named Kirk Johnson who started a list of hundreds of Iraqis who needed to get out of their country. They were getting death... read more →
Reports by rights organizations such as the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Human Rights First have established that much of the backlog is attributable to the complexity of the... read more →
"Advocacy group, Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project or IRAP says thousands of men and women have been waiting, many with documents stuck somewhere in the visa pipeline. Katie Reisner is the... read more →
"Refugee advocates are enthusiastic about language in the Senate bill that they say brings more parity to the Iraqi and Afghan programs by expanding visa eligibility for Afghans to more... read more →
“There are certain neighborhoods that are safer than others, and the rent in those neighborhoods has skyrocketed,” said Becca Heller, director of the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, a nongovernmental... read more →
19 REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVES ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA TO EXTEND AND REFORM VISA PROGRAMS FOR IRAQI AND AFGHAN ALLIES “The U.S. has a responsibility to follow through on... read more →
The New York Times Op-Ed page today features a moving video opinion piece by Beth Murphy on the abandonment of our Iraqi allies in Iraq. Click here to view the... read more →
Iraqis who originally fled to Syria during the height of the civil war are now being forced back to Iraq, where they are greeted by more insecurity violence, the BBC... read more →
There was a great LA Times piece about an endangered an Iraqi being hunted down for his work with the U.S. military and IRAP's efforts to safely resettle him. Press... read more →
IRAP's advocacy on behalf of LGBT Iraqis with the Dutch government has led the Netherlands to change their policy toward LGBT asylum seekers from Iraq, who now have a presumption of... read more →
A recent article by Andrew Harmon in The Advocate described the plight facing LGBT and "emo" Iraqis, currently being hunted down and persecuted at alarming rates throughout Iraq. In the... read more →
At the age of 23, Farah Al-Khafaji defied custom to launch her own engineering company in Iraq, working with the U.S. military to provide support to American efforts on the... read more →
After her husband received a death threat in the form of a note on their doorstep, Ekhlas and her family knew they had to flee their home. After arriving safely... read more →
Dear IRAP Supporters: Thank you so much for your rapid attention to the dire matter of LGBTI individuals currently being hunted down and massacred in Iraq. The speed with which... read more →
European countries are forcibly deporting Iraqi refugees against the Iraqi government's wishes, according to a AK News story. The Iraqi government has objected to these deportations, citing concerns about the weak... read more →
Deadly sectarian tensions persist in Iraq, and continue to terrorize refugees who return, according to a New York Times story. Near-record numbers of Iraqi are returning to Iraq, finding danger... read more →
The security clearance process for the special immigrant visa program - which resettles Iraqis who have been threatened because they served the U.S. government during the war - has been... read more →
About 30,000 Iraqi refugees - many of whom served with U.S. forces and contractors during the war - are stuck waiting for heightened security checks before they can be resettled... read more →
Gay and "emo" youths in Iraq are in serious danger: between 14 and 40 youths have been murdered in recent weeks - many bludgeoned with cement blocks in an allusion... read more →
The number of refugees admitted to the United States in the 2011 fiscal year was 23 percent lower than the amount admitted in the FY 2010, according to figures released... read more →
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services released its fiscal year 2010 annual report on the use of special immigrant status for Iraqis and Afghan refugees. According to the report, 1,045 Iraqis... read more →
The escalating conflict in Syria has many of the one million Iraqi refugees there again facing civil unrest, as well as an intensifying regional sectarian animosity, according to the Wall Street... read more →
Domestic violence is on the rise In Iraq, and there are few places for abused and vulnerable women to seek refuge, an Al-Jazeera story reports. Rights groups have said that domestic... read more →
The State Department may halve the staff at the American embassy in Iraq - which, as the largest embassy in the world, costs $6 billion a year, according to a New... read more →
A New York Times editorial reminds us that The United States has a "moral obligation" to screen Iraqi asylum applicants transparently and quickly - especially those who risked their lives to help Americans.... read more →
Current American policy and practice bars the use of videoconferencing to conduct initial interviews with Iraqis seeking admission to the United States as refugees. This practice has stalled the processing... read more →
About 10,000 Iraqi refugees wait in Syria for the interviews with the US Government that will determine their future and that of their families, the New York Times reports. But... read more →
BAGHDAD, 19 January 2012 (IRIN) - Suicide attacks, assassinations and bombings in Iraq have claimed the lives of at least 265 people and injured hundreds of others since 18 December,... read more →
In her column World View, Trudy Rubin of the Philadelphia Inquirer highlights cases of deserving applicants whose visas have been inexplicably delayed. From her correspondence with IRAP director Becca Heller: “The... read more →
Rev. Robert Chase, in an op-ed for Newsday, calls on Americans to remember, even as we rejoice in scenes of returning soldiers, the four million displaced Iraqis left behind. Chase... read more →
City Limits interviews IRAP translator and journalist Alaa Majeed and IRAP director Becca Heller about the challenges facing Iraqis who helped U.S. forces-- the threats they receive in Iraq, the... read more →
While USCIS continues to refine and improve the process of conducting security checks on Iraqi refugee and SIV applicants, Iraqis who worked for coalition forces, and even Iraqis connected to... read more →
Western officials feared that instability would worsen as U.S. troops left Iraq, but they hoped the political turmoil that was in the works even before the official withdrawal -- with... read more →
President Obama believes the U.S. is leaving behind a "stable and self-reliant Iraq." But as Shiite Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki demands that Kurdish leaders turn over Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi,... read more →
Several thousand Iraqis, PBS News reports, including many who helped the United States during the Iraq war, are caught in a grim race between death threats in their own country... read more →
Read IRAP's op-ed on refugee access to legal counsel appearing in the Christian Science Monitor here. Refugees applying for resettlement to the United States face an unknown and complicated legal system.... read more →
“I did it because I like my country and the Mahdi army was working for Iran,” Salam Hamrani, an Iraqi refugee in Cyprus, tells his good friend Trudy Rubin, columnist... read more →
In addition to the ordinary challenges of being a refugee in a country that hasn't ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention (and Iraq's neighbors have not), LGBTI refugees in Lebanon, Syria,... read more →
Between the U.S. government's increased security check regime and Syria's refusal to grant visas to DHS refugee ajudicators, Iraqis in Damascus find themselves stuck in the midst of an increasingly... read more →
Between the U.S. government's increased security check regime and Syria's refusal to grant visas to DHS refugee ajudicators, Iraqis in Damascus find themselves stuck in the midst of an increasingly... read more →
Joe Coon, an Iraq War veteran, writes in the Oregonian about the struggle he went through to get his former interpreter and close friend, Bandar, safely to the United States... read more →
Parliamentarians and jurists met in London on Tuesday to call upon the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States to propose a draft text to the UN Security... read more →
The DoD announces a new tool to help Iraqis who formerly worked for the United States contact their previous military or Defense supervisors. Potential SIV applicants who need to get... read more →
Although the number of refugees seeking asylum in industrialized countries has risen by 17%, the BBC reports, that increase is less than what many expected in light of the Arab... read more →
In return for a promise by Democratic leaders to hold a congressional hearing into how refugees are admitted, Senator Rand Paul finally agreed to lift his hold on a bill... read more →
The Law Offices of Scott J Bloch, P.A. has initiated a class action law suit under the Defense Base Act to compensate American citizens and foreign citizens whose work on... read more →
20,000 fewer refugees have entered the United States this year than last. Starting in early 2011, thousands of refugees who had been granted resettlement through USRAP were told that their... read more →
A measure extending aid to 5,600 elderly and disabled refugees was expected to garner unanimous support in the Senate. A recent New York Times editorial warned of possible opposition to the measure... read more →
Register here! We have a great line up of speakers, trainings, and networking opportunities. Details Date: Saturday, November 5, 2011 Time: 9 am – 8 pm Location: Stanford Law School... read more →
Let the Obama Administration know that you believe the United States should protect and resettle Iraqi employees who risked their lives on our behalf. Unlike other on line petitions, this... read more →
As a State Department Foreign Service Officer in Baghdad from 2009 to 2010, Peter Van Buren consistently felt that his Provincial Reconstruction Teams could do little to lessen the sectarianism,... read more →
Voluntary return is not a permanent solution when those “who have returned since 2008 have largely done so because of deteriorating conditions in exile rather than confidence that life is... read more →
A New York Times editorial urges immediate congressional action to prevent 2,195 refugees in the United States, many of them elderly and disabled, from losing their eligibility for refugee benefits... read more →
Mark Your Calendars! The first West Coast IRAP conference will be held at Stanford Law School on November 5, 2011. We have a great line up of speakers, trainings, and networking opportunities. Registration... read more →
A new report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction states that Iraq is less safe now than it was a year ago. According to the report, there... read more →
In a report on human rights in Iraq during 2010, the UNAMI Human Rights Office and UNHCR list violations committed against these rights, including “silent” abuses such as “widespread poverty,... read more →
The New York Times reports that despite a media blitz of uprisings and perceived chaos in Syria, for Iraqis, the neighboring country is an “oasis.” Iraqis are heading to Syria... read more →
Yesterday, a group of senators, led by Sen. Patrick Leahy, petitioned the Department of Homeland Security to release further information on the delays in processing for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV)... read more →
The New York Times reports today that Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries are in a “state of limbo.” According to the Times, refugees fled Iraq... read more →
In his online column for the New Yorker, George Packer called the unnecessary delays in SIV processing a “tragedy” the Obama administration has the ability to prevent. “President Obama has... read more →
Congratulations to our friend and Echoing Green colleague RefugePoint, formerly Mapendo International, on a great new name and look! www.RefugePoint.org. RefugePoint is an awesome organization that has provided help to... read more →
In a piece on ForeignPolicy.com, Chris Ulack said the Arab Spring has put Iraqi refugees in Syria “between a rock and a hard place.” Thousands of Iraqis fled instability in... read more →
Lebanon’s Daily Star reports the number of Iraqi refugees registered with UNHCR in Lebanon rose from 8,300 in January to 9,390 this month, accounting for 85 percent of registered refugees... read more →
Protestors in England set up a blockade at Heathrow Airport to prevent the mass deportation of 70 Iraqi refugees on June 21st. The chartered flight containing these refugees was set... read more →
The Migration Policy Institute’s report titled The Faltering US Refugee Protection System details the setbacks potential refugees and asylees have faced in the past 20 years because of flawed government... read more →
Three reports were released recently concerning the current state of Iraqi national security, the conditions of urban Baghdad, and return rates for IDPs and refugees. The Washington Institute for Near... read more →
This week’s New Yorker features a piece on “third country nationals” (T.C.N.s) in Iraq and Afghanistan who were deceived and trafficked from their home countries by private contractors to work... read more →
A news report today from Al Jazeera highlights the plight of Iraqi refugees, forced to return to potential persecutors in Iraq in an attempt to save themselves from the violence... read more →
The UN News Agency reported today that following the conflicts in Libya and Syria, the Iraqi government was preparing for a major influx of returned refugees. However, the article also... read more →
According to today's Washington Post, "A heavily U.S.-funded refugee relief program has begun quietly preparing for a humanitarian crisis on the Iraqi-Syrian border." Consistent with reports IRAP has been receiving... read more →
One of the things that troubles me most about the refugee situation is how the stories of millions of displaced people are left untold in the public narrative. So I’m... read more →
The New York Times has an insightful feature today on the lingering effects o ftorture on Iraqi refugees living in Amman, Jordan. It details the trauma that many Iraqi refugees... read more →
Read it here.
The Guardian reported today that after a six month hiatus, the U.K. has resumed deportation of Iraqi asylum seekers, against the recommendation of both UNHCR and the European Court of... read more →
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today released new guidance for refugees seeking resettlement to the U.S. attempting to appeal their rejections.
A newly released report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies predicts widespread violence to continue for several years following the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.
UNHCR has reported that the number of Iraqi refugees who felt safe enough to return home to Iraq dropped 40% between 2009 and 2010.
Two new reports this week highlight the challenges facing Iraqi refugees. A new briefing from the International Organization for Migration discusses the unique challenges facing Iraqi refugee female-headed families who... read more →
Today's top nyt.com story tracks the continuing flight of Christians and other religious minorities from Iraq. The article estimates that Christians make up about 20% of Iraqi refugees in total.
UNHCR has released the new estimates of the number of Iraqi refugees registered with UNHCR in the Middle East for the calendar year 2010. The main takeaway is that Iraqis... read more →
Iraqi Christians have been facing renewed persecution during the first weeks of November, while the Iraqi government struggles to form a workable coalition. One Iraqi archbishop living in the United... read more →
After losing most of his family in the war, Mustafa is alone and single in Jordan, stuck in a seemingly endless limbo as he waits for asylum. Credits: Filmed by... read more →
Although European countries such as Denmark, Britain and the Netherlands were some of the first to open their doors to Iraqi refugees seeking asylum, they have since begun a massive... read more →
NOTE: Due to increased threats to Ahmed's family in Iraq, for their safety we can no longer list Ahmed's story on our website. Please help us provide relief to refugees... read more →
After five years of waiting fruitlessly for asylum, a father wonders what kind of future his children face in a country that doesn't seem to want them. Credits: Filmed by... read more →
Naseer is a member of the Khuzaie tribe, an influential tribe with a tradition of providing assistance to its members. Naseer and his brothers worked with their father, a tribal... read more →
For the two million Iraqi refugees who have taken temporary shelter throughout the Middle East, daily life is often a battle against poverty and despair. Holding a job is often... read more →
Great news from Canada! Our northern neighbors have just announced that they are extending their resettlement program for Iraqi refugees, allowing more of the Iraq War's stranded families to build... read more →
As sectarian violence in Iraq escalated out of control, religious minorities were hit particularly hard. IRAP volunteers met with a community of Assyrian Christian refugees at a church service in... read more →
During the winter of 2010, IRAP student leaders from Yale, Stanford, NYU and Columbia law schools traveled to Lebanon, Jordan and Syria to meet with Iraqi refugees, US and UN... read more →
In late 2007, armed extremists in Fallujah gave Yusra Kadhim and her husband Jamal a choice between divorce and death. A Shi'a Muslim, Yusra had thought little of marrying a... read more →
UPDATE! With IRAP's help, the Ibrahim's have won their appeal and now live in Portland, OR. Watch our short documentary on their story. Credits: Filmed by Lee Wang, edited by... read more →
For the approximately one million Iraqis now taking refuge in Syria, life is often a daily battle between hope and despair. These two Iraqi shoeshine boys in Damascus are part... read more →
Mixed Sunni Shi'a families became targets of sectarian violence in Iraq. Many of them fled Iraq after enduring staggering danger and loss. This family managed to find temporary shelter in a... read more →
Zaman talks about how she was forced to drop out of college after being targeted for being a member of a Christian minority group. Credits: Filmed by Lee Wang, edited... read more →