Our Impact

Around the globe, more than 100 million people have been forced from their homes due to war, persecution, extreme violence and climate change. These millions of people often flee with only the items on their backs. On the frontlines are thousands of grassroots, community-based organizations that provide vital support and services to help individuals and families in crisis.

From 2016 – 2022, Refugee Action Fund played a critical role in connecting donors who wanted to help forcibly displaced people with a diversified portfolio of organizations who were aiding, advocating for, and advancing the status of refugees globally.

We helped philanthropists ensure that their dollars made the greatest impact on those who need it most—supporting individuals and families who fall through the cracks of government and larger NGO assistance. We prioritized funding to organizations that are community-based and representative of constituents they serve. And we supported people who are most vulnerable and are often excluded from receiving life-saving services because of their identity. This included Indigenous, Black and LGBTQ+ migrants. This lifeline of support made a world of difference for the most vulnerable.

One thing we say at Haitian Bridge Alliance is Anpil men, chay pa lou which is a Haitian creole proverb meaning Many hands lighten the load. Having Refugee Action Fund and its network has made it easier for us to carry the load and continue to do the work.

– Guerline Jozef
President of Haitian Bridge Alliance

It’s hard to adequately articulate our gratitude for Refugee Action Fund. Your generosity is enabling us to support refugees in detention who face the dual burden of a humanitarian crisis and a global pandemic. Thank you!

When the COVID-19 outbreak hit the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, many detainees worried not only for their asylum cases, but for their lives. Ms. TA, a 20-year-old from Cameroon, fled her country after she was detained for 17 days and beaten by Cameroonian police on account of her political opinion. She suffers from severe asthma and a heart condition. Despite having had an asthma attack in court, in front of guards, she was not identified by ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) as being medically vulnerable. The Refugee Action Fund’s grantee, Immigration Justice Project (IJP), was able to provide lawyers to Ms. TA and other detainees in Otay Mesa, through its pro-bono legal services. Thanks to IJP, Ms. TA was released in May 2020 and reunited with her mother. IJP continues to represent Ms. TA’s asylum case and is assisting her in obtaining employment authorization. With support from Refugee Action Fund, IJP ramped up its representation to provide life-changing legal services to asylum seekers despite the challenges and complications brought on by the pandemic.

Tens of thousands of migrants who speak indigenous languages are currently incarcerated in detention centers. Many Indigenous people speak neither English nor Spanish, which means they cannot communicate with fellow detainees, guards or lawyers. Although federal law requires that language interpreters be provided, hastily recruited Indigenous interpreters are rarely screened, trained, or proficient in legal terminology. Further, most language service providers are incapable of matching Indigenous detainees with interpreters who verifiably speak their language. For many Indigenous migrants, being detained in a place where no one can speak their language leads to amplified fear and isolation. The inability to communicate if they are sick, or to explain to a judge why they fled their country and are seeking asylum, can mean the difference between life and death.

The Refugee Action Fund grantee, Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO), was founded by two Zapotec women in 2016 — as an Indigenous women-led organization combating racism towards Indigenous people by bringing visibility and resources to Indigenous migrant communities. CIELO trains and matches interpreters with indigenous language speakers in the health and legal systems. This work ameliorates the harsh alienation Indigenous migrants might feel in detention centers, allots access to healthcare services, and is integral in helping Indigenous people understand their rights and communicate throughout their legal proceedings. CIELO brings hope, visibility and awareness to a deeply underserved population among migrants.

The Refugee Action Fund’s support and trust in CIELO has allowed us to respond flexibly to the immediate needs of the Indigenous communities in Los Angeles and beyond. With their support, we were able to scale up our services to provide critical emergency aid to Indigenous migrants during the pandemic and place Indigenous interpreters across the country.