Armenians. Evangelical Christians from the Soviet Union. and Ameraslan young people. And LIRS continues to resettle refugees from Southeast Asia. Africa. and the Near East. With the help of the ELCA and Lutheran World Federation World Service. LIRS ministers with undocumented people in the United States by supporting 42 social service. advocacy and legal service communitybased projects that address their needs. Matching private funds offered by the Ford Foundation are distributed in like manner-$500.000 over the next 3 years. The LCMS coordinates with LIRS with respect to the grants it makes through its own World Relief program of the Board for Social Ministry Services to these and other such projects. as well. Recently In Guatemala. LIRS representatives took part In an International conference on effects of the peace talks and the plans to assist the 1 million refugees there or from there. LIRS also helped organize an ecumenical delegaton to Washington. DC about Central Americans on the southwest Texas border. That delegation made It clear that the policy of massive detention and lack of due process for Central Americans was In need of change. At one point this summer. as many as 5.000 refugees were being detained In camps on the R.o Grande Valley area. The ELCA responded to an emergency appeal to the churches for funds for legal services to help them. LIRS Is also organizing help for refugee children who are being kept in detention centers because of their lack of legal status In this country. In June 1989 the LIRS executive director was the LIRS and therefore the churches representative In an International conference In Geneva concerning Southeast Asian refugees. These talks reaffirmed commitments by governments not to push back refugees. to expand programs of direct departures from Vietnam. and to continue resettlement. especially for those 52.000 who have spent years of their lives In camps. It was tough. Most countries wanted to end asylum now.
Keywords matched
undocumented refugee refugees