Five on Friday: World Refugee Day 2021

Happy World Refugee Day! Celebrated for the last 20 years on June 20th, and just a day after Juneteenth, this day was designated by the United Nations to celebrate the strength and courage of people who felt they had no other option than to flee their homes. This week's Five on Friday focuses on asylum seekers – people who have applied for asylum in the US, whose cases have not yet been reviewed and thereby are not yet categorized as a refugee – and their health needs. Be sure to read about how MCN's Health Network is helping asylum seekers meet their health needs after they're released from detention by reading stories on Facebook – use the hashtag #HealthNetworkHelpsPeople. 

This weekend, Claire is looking forward to watching the documentary, “A Place to Breathe,” which celebrates the work of clinicians at community health centers serving asylum seekers in Oakland, CA and Lowell, MA. The documentary is available for viewing for free this weekend only, in honor of World Refugee Day. 

Candace shared this article, noting how much it sounded like stories of patients from Health Network: “Central American Women are Fleeing Domestic Violence Amid a Pandemic. Few Find Refuge in US.” 

Kaethe and Claire sent out another piece that reflected the work of Health Network, an op-ed that emphasizes the need for case management for pregnant asylum seekers as they leave the border region (which is exactly what Health Network does). It spurred some internal conversation and clarifications, including that in Health Network's experience, pregnant asylum seekers are some of the only people who are being released from detention, contrary to the article's assertions, and that they are largely able to access care at community health centers: “The US Is Failing to Protect Pregnant Asylum Seekers.”

Kaethe highlighted an AP News piece, “Panic Attacks Highlight Stress at Shelters for Migrant Kids.”

Bonus share: If you'd like some music for the weekend, Jillian shared “She Was Deeply Moved by Refugees’ Stories. So She Told Them in Song.”

Weekly Win: Celebrations all around: “Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Wednesday reversed a Trump-era immigration ruling that made it all but impossible for people to seek asylum in the United States over credible fears of domestic abuse or gang violence, marking one of the Justice Department’s most significant breaks with the previous administration” -- as stated in: “Justice Dept. Ends a Trump Policy that Limited Asylum for Survivors of Gang Violence and Domestic Abuse.”

Have a safe and healthy weekend!

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