Welcome to the fifth post in the “10 Ways to Support Immigrants and Refugees” series!
#6: Stay Informed
Although we have already discussed educating yourself in this blog series, refugee and immigration rights and situations are constantly changing. New information is essential when it comes to staying up to date on social issues such as those impacting refugees and immigrants in the United States and across the globe. When you become passionate about these issues, it can be tempting to immediately talk about them to everyone you know. However, it is important to stay informed with these topics if you wish to become a strong advocate for immigrants and refugees.
The following resources may be helpful on your journey to becoming an informed immigrant and refugee advocate:
Boundless Immigration NewsU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services NewslettersImmigration Advocates NetworkIntroduction to Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, and Migrants from Amnesty InternationalInternational Rescue Committee
How do you stay updated on issues affecting immigrants and refugees in your community and across the globe? Let us know on our social media!
Instagram: @puente.ci
Facebook: @PuenteCulturalIntegration
– Annaliese Fowler, Puente CI Data Analyst
It helps to know what rights newcomers have, how asylum- and refugee-support systems work, and where the real gaps are. Having this background doesn’t just make you a better ally — it lets you explain issues clearly and stand up for fair treatment when conversations get heated or misleading information spreads.
Information also empowers you to connect people to services they might not know exist — legal help, housing, language support, community groups. When you’re aware of these resources, you can help reduce uncertainty and isolation, which are common challenges for newcomers.
And when policies or enforcement change, staying informed lets you respond quickly — as a friend, neighbor or advocate. That might mean signing up for newsletters, following trusted local organizations, or simply keeping a pulse on the news. In many cases, the difference between confusion and clarity comes down to knowledge.