Search
We understand that there are an infinite number of worthy causes and charities to give to. If this is not an issue that speaks to you, I pray you find one that does and please give something, anything.  In this first phase of this project release we have chosen to give our proceeds to UNHCR. That said, there are others you might might want to consider

Why this is important
In 2018 some 80 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. That was an increase of 8.7 million people over the previous year, and the world’s forcibly displaced population remained at a record high.  This includes:
  • 26.0 million refugees in the world—the highest ever seen
  • 45.7 million internally displaced people
  • 4.2 million asylum-seekers.​
    ​*Source UN. This doesn't not include climate change displacement
We are living in a time where we have created a hierarchy of distinctions regarding people in need but fail to see the commonality in all our shared human experiences. We are falling short of our ideals, but we all can contribute in small ways to help make up the difference.

Refugee Resettlement 

The US has historically lead all nations in resettling refugees and asylum seekers. That is no longer the case. The US government policy in 2020 set a refugee cap at 18,000. As a percentage of population we are now behind Russia and Iran and 47 other countries. * Source, US Customs and Border Patrol & *The Norwegian Refugee Council, UN reporting data.

Fact Snapshot

People often conflate legal immigrants with illegal immigrants as well as refugee settlement numbers. Whatever your views may be these are the actual numbers. ​
  • 11 million illegal immigrants living in the US.
  • 48 million total foreign born living in the US.
  • The US annual cap for refugees in 2020 was 18,000. ​​
​* US Customs and Border Patrol & * Pew Research Center

History and Perspective

Most estimates put the population of Ireland in the early 1800's at just over 8 million and that nearly 2/3rds of the population either died or fled the country between 1840 and 1880. To this day the population has never recovered. We'll leave the topic of English malice or neglect for another time but the context is relevant.  Regardless, the result was that in the 1840s, they comprised nearly half of all immigrants to the United States with approximately 4.5 million Irish arriving between 1820 and 1930.  To put that in perspective the 1860 U.S. census was 31 million with about 4.5 million of them African American. 
According to Pew Research review of census data, meaning legal and illegal residents,  currently Mexico is the top country of the U.S. immigrant population. In 2018, roughly 11.2 million immigrants living in the U.S. were from Mexico, accounting for 25% of all U.S. immigrants. The next largest origin groups were those from China (6%), India (6%), the Philippines (4%) and El Salvador (3%) at a time when the total US population is 331 million. The percentage of all foreign born people living in the United States in 1890 was 15%. Today that number is roughly 12%. The lowest recorded point was 1965 at 7%. It is also important to note that these recent arrivals statistically have significantly higher levels of skills and education than the arriving Irish refugees of the 1800s. ​

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Turf Fire Liars

Copyright © 2021