Challenging Injustice: The Core of Our Human Rights Advocacy
At the heart of ELOI Ministries Inc. (USA) is a commitment to the fundamental truth that all people deserve to be treated with dignity, regardless of their country of origin. However, the reality for many New Americans is a far cry from this ideal. For those arriving in the United States seeking relief from persecution, […]
Igniting Our Lights: Pastor Tendo Steven on Faith, Family, and Immigration Justice
On Thursday, December 18, our community gathered for a moving “Peaceful Vigil” to “Ignite Our Lights” in honor of International Migrants Day. Held on the front steps and lawn of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington , the event was a call to action to protect migrant workers’ rights, promote fair treatment, and recognize […]
Alternatives to Surveillance: Advocating for Humane Immigration Release
The United States utilizes the world’s largest immigration detention system. Yet, research consistently shows that detention is expensive, often inhumane, and severely detrimental to mental health, leading to high rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression that persist long after release. While the government offers its own Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs, these often rely heavily […]
Host an Immigrant: A Practical Guide to Changing a Life
The headlines often portray the immigration crisis as an insurmountable wall of policy and politics. It’s easy to feel helpless, to look at the thousands seeking refuge and think, “The problem is too big. What can I possibly do?” At ELOI Ministries Inc. (USA), we believe the answer doesn’t lie in massive, impersonal systems. It […]
The Mental Health Crisis in Immigrant Communities
Moving to a new country is stressful for anyone. But fleeing your home, surviving a dangerous migration journey, and enduring incarceration in a detention center creates a specific, deep-seated type of trauma. In the US, ELOIM’s health program has a laser focus: Mental Health. We have identified this as the single greatest unmet need among […]
The Professional Volunteer: Why Your Career Skills are Needed in Uganda
When people think of “volunteering in Africa,” they often picture college students painting walls or playing soccer with children. While those moments are beautiful and necessary, there is another level of volunteering that creates profound, structural change: Professional Volunteering. At ELOIM USA, we are calling on the working professionals—the doctors, the teachers, the engineers, the […]
Creating Stability: Practical Steps for Hosting an Immigrant and Legal Access
The Host an Immigrant program is a direct, actionable way for Americans to participate in human rights advocacy. This week, we want to detail the practical pathway from being released from detention to starting a new life, and how hosts become essential partners in legal access. The Bridge to Legal Security For an immigrant, stable […]
The Healing Economy: Supporting Youth Recovery Through Volunteer Abroad Services
One of the most profound benefits of ELOIM’s Post Recovery Support program—sending young people recovering from addiction to Uganda for service—is the introduction to the “Healing Economy.” This is an economy based on contribution, self-worth, and purpose, directly contrasting the consumption and self-destruction that addiction often involves. From Isolation to Integration Addiction thrives in isolation. […]
New Americans: Addressing the Renewed Pain of Institutional Racism
For “New Americans,” the journey is often marked by two types of trauma: the initial trauma they fled, and the “renewed pain” they encounter upon arrival in the U.S. This renewed pain is often rooted in institutional racism and systematic prejudice, particularly in detention settings and during asylum proceedings. Systemic Bias in the Immigration System […]
Open Homes, Open Hearts: Joining the Immigrant Host Family Network
The journey for a New American often involves spending months or even years in detention, followed by a sudden release with few resources and nowhere to go. This transition period is critically vulnerable, often leading to homelessness and increased mental health stress. Our Host an Immigrant initiative offers a simple, powerful way for compassionate Americans […]