Tag: refugees

A North Dakota county on Monday voted to accept no more than 25 refugees next year, after initially signaling it would be the first to ban them since President Donald Trump ordered that states and counties should have the power to do so.

While working on adapting refugees have to deal with something that is unexpected and not part of humanity: Some unwelcoming locals dehumanize them.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, from 1-3 p.m., the St. Ann and St. Aloysius Immigration Committee invites the community to their event, “Prayerful Witness: Walking in Solidarity with Immigrants.”

Refugee resettlement began in our country in large part because religious congregations wanted to live out Gospel values by welcoming vulnerable people beyond our shores.

Refugees cross imposing physical barriers, like the Rio Grande River; I crossed a mountain range. I don’t know what it’s like to live as a persecuted minority, but now I have some appreciation for what someone must endure to take on such a challenging journey.

One unavoidable difference between my ride and the journey of a refugee is that I’m sure I’m going to get home. But I’m not certain I’m going to complete the whole ride. When a refugee leaves home, they have no guarantee they will make it.

One of the many reasons I love cycling is that it forces you to observe your surroundings carefully. You learn to look farther ahead for dangers and obstacles, keep a mental map of what’s behind you and use the sense of feel to guide you through changing terrain and windy conditions.