The Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County will observe World Refugee Day for the 3rd year in a row. The organization will focus on the growing number of asylum seekers at the southern U.S. Border.
Anne Bridgman with the coalition says since the Trump Administration put a cap on refugees, they don’t see as many in Lane County.
BRIDGMAN: “In that that context the Refugee Resettlement Coalition decided to branch out and begin a pilot program to help asylum seekers.”
The focus on asylum seekers coupled with the growing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border contributed to this year’s theme for World Refugee day. As part of the observance, Bridgman will talk about her experience at a Florida facility where thousands of immigrant children are being detained.
BRIDGMAN: “Visiting Homestead was an emotionally jarring experience. I was there for a week, we would climb up on stepladders and look over a fence into a field into where the children were.”
World Refugee Day is June 20th and Bridgman will speak on the 22nd at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene.
