Strengthen the Asylum Ecosystem

Opportunities for asylum advocates to prioritize strategies and create a proactive vision. The attacks on the asylum system have overwhelmed organizations, forcing them into a triage and reactive mode and leaving little time for prioritizing their immediate responsive strategies or developing a long-term proactive vision.

Collaboration and referrals between and among organizations. State and local organizations, particularly those representing asylum seekers, can be better supported to participate in national advocacy, develop partnerships across geographical lines, and have access to resources developed by national groups, particularly in areas such as communications. Refugee resettlement organizations could be supported in adapting their work to encompass asylum seekers.

Building organizing capacity.

Expand Advocacy

State and local advocacy. Although asylum policy is a federal issue, state and local interventions can heighten support for asylum seekers.

Federal advocacy. Although asylum issues have been historically underrepresented in broader immigrant rights advocacy, there are now opportunities to raise key asylum issues through appropriations and oversight and ensure asylum organizations’ capacity to participate and support these efforts. Educating lawmakers about asylum and identifying champions for a more progressive asylum framework and legislative agenda is also critical.

Expand Direct Services and Impact Litigation

Direct legal representation and litigation. Individual representation is essential, both to meet the urgent needs of asylum seekers and as a key part of advocacy, communications, impact litigation, and organizing strategies.

Shift the Narrative About Asylum Seekers

Effective messaging and communications are needed to increase public understanding and support of asylum issues.

Training and empowering asylum seekers and asylees to speak on their own behalf, tell their own stories, and educate policy makers and the general public is essential in shifting the narrative.

Address Root Causes:

Research the root causes of forced migration and potential points of leverage for philanthropy, both domestically and abroad.

Evaluation of government efforts to address root causes in countries of origin, including promising practices, innovative strategies, gaps, and key challenges.

Cross-regional efforts to enforce international protections and bi-national solutions.

Read the full article about leverage points for philanthropy at Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees.