The Golden Door Coalition is a coalition of individuals and organizations committed to the resettlement of refugees in Illinois with dignity and the support necessary to thrive in our nation.
Our members represent a broad range of ethnic communities, faith communities, employers, community-based organizations and others.
We take our name from Emma Lazarus inspiring words engraved on the Statue of Liberty, “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-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Right now the Congressional Super Budget Committee is listening to feedback. Please contact your representatives today and let them know:
"I am your constituent and I care about refugees. As you weigh in with the Joint Deficit Reduction Committee, I ask you to show your commitment to constituents like myself who care about refugee assistance and resettlement. Life-saving refugee assistance programs amount to only one percent of the federal budget. Cutting this funding will make almost no impact on the federal deficit, but will have tragic consequences for the world's most vulnerable. Please do not focus deficit reduction efforts on those whose very lives would be in jeopardy with such cuts. There are other areas where spending cuts can be made."
Let us know after you speak up so we can track response. Thank you!