Global Refuge Explained

Global Refuge
Type:	Non-governmental
Status:	Non-profit
Headquarters:	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Leader Title:	President and CEO
Leader Name:	Krish O'Mara Vignarajah
Affiliations:	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Revenue:	US$ 52.1 million (2017)^[1]
Tax Id:	132574854
Num Employees:	550
Website:	https://www.globalrefuge.org/
Region:	United States
Formerly:	Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service,^[2] is a non-profit organization that supports refugees and migrants entering the United States. It is one of nine refugee resettlement agencies working with the Office of Refugee Resettlement^[3] and one of two that serves unaccompanied refugee minors.^[4] Global Refuge also advocates for policies and practices relating to immigration and detention.^{[5] [6]}

As an organization, Global Refuge originates from the response of American Lutherans in 1939 to the needs of Europeans displaced because of World War II,^[7] but the roots of the organization reach back to the 1860s when the New York Ministerium and the Pennsylvania Ministerium joined together to help and protect Lutheran immigrants in the US.^[8] Since then the organization's scope has expanded to include any refugees entering the US, support for asylum seekers^[9] and migrants,^{[10] [11]} and services to unaccompanied children (UACs).

Global Refuge continues to be a faith-based organization and celebrates strong collaborative relationships with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.^[12]

the president and CEO is Krish O'Mara Vignarajah.^[13]

Notes and References

1. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/lutheran-immigrant-and-refugee-services-lirs/ Influence Watch
2. Web site: 2024-01-17 . LIRS Rebrands as Global Refuge Press Release . 2024-01-17 . Global Refuge . en-US.
3. Web site: Voluntary Agencies. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Administration for Children and Families. July 17, 2019.
4. Web site: About Unaccompanied Refugee Minors. Office of Refugee Resettlement; Administration for Children and Families. July 17, 2019.
5. Web site: Immigrant Detention Centers in Texas, New Mexico Have Old Problems, Report Finds. Sneed. Tierney. October 30, 2014. U.S. News & World Report. July 17, 2019.
6. Web site: ‘Locking Up Family Values, Again’ Report. January 24, 2013. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. September 3, 2015.
7. Book: Solberg, Richard. Open Doors the Story of Lutherans Resettling Refugees. Concordia Publishing House. 1992. St. Louis.
8. Book: Bouman, Stephen Paul. They Are Us: Lutherans and Immigration. Deffenbaugh. Ralston. Augsburg Fortress. 2009. Minneapolis.
9. Web site: Immigration Reform Update: Immigrant Rights Groups Call for Closing Artesia, Karnes Detention Centers as Report Details 'Inhumane' Conditions : US News. Oleaga. Michael. October 30, 2014. Latin Post. July 17, 2019.
10. Web site: See It, Say It: The Supreme Court Should Strike Down SB 1070. Hartke. Linda. April 24, 2012. Sojourners. July 17, 2019.
11. Web site: If High Court Upholds Arizona's SB 1070, Priests and Rabbis Could Be Prosecuted for Providing Humanitarian Aid. Aziz. Saharf. Roman. Ediberto. June 21, 2012. TruthOut. July 17, 2019.
12. Web site: Church Partners. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. January 9, 2024.
13. Web site: LIRS Appoints Krish O’Mara Vignarajah as President and CEO: Choice Represents a New Generation of Leadership. February 13, 2019. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. February 13, 2019.