About

Katilin Roberson, the Dallas & Fort Worth Development Associate for Refugee Services of Texas (RST), joined us to discuss the work of RST. She gives a bit of the history of their work, shares what is happening with the Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) for those in Afghanistan, and how we can get involved in the work of RST.  RST is hosting trainings for new volunteers. If you are interested in joining their work you can create a volunteer profile on their webpage and sign up for a training. You can also make donations or buy supplies off their Amazon wish list. Find more details here: https://www.rstx.org/locations/dallas.html And if your curious what the UMC says about refugees, this is the statement from the Social Principles: Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees We affirm the dignity, worth and rights of migrants, immigrants and refugees, including displaced and stateless people. In so doing, we acknowledge that the world today is facing an unprecedented crisis related to the displacement of vast numbers of people due to such factors as ongoing wars and other hostilities, foreign interventions, widespread famine and hunger, global warming and climate change, and the failure of nation-states to adequately protect and care for their people. We recognize that displaced people are particularly vulnerable as their inbetween status often provides them with few protections and benefits, leaving them open to exploitation, violence and abuse. We urge United Methodists to welcome migrants, refugees, and immigrants into their congregations and to commit themselves to providing concrete support, including help with navigating restrictive and often lengthy immigration policies, and assistance with securing food, housing, education, employment and other kinds of support. We oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants or refugees. Additionally, we decry attempts to detain displaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. We challenge policies that call for the separation of families, especially parents and minor children, and we oppose the existence of for-profit detention centers for such purposes.