Immigration as America’s Superpower: Krish O’Mara Vignarajah on Fighting Fiction with Fact 

Krish: Thanks so much for having me.

Denver: Your family fled civil war in Sri Lanka and found refuge in the United States. Krish, how have those formative experiences shaped your personal mission, and how do they guide your leadership today?

Krish: I know that there are families just like mine who are seeking refuge in the United States. I was lucky enough that when my family fled Sri Lanka, a country that was on the brink of civil war, they were able to receive a warm welcome here in the U.S.

I know that it was local communities that supported them as they were just putting roots down, that allowed them as educators to support their kids, which gave us the chance to go to Yale and Oxford and Harvard and Yale Law, and ultimately gave me the chance to get to a position working at the White House.

And I just know that there are families just like mine who are fleeing for their lives, who just want a better life here in the United States. And so I hope our country continues to support the work of welcome.

Denver: The organization was founded in 1939. That’s some 85 years ago. And you recently rebranded from the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service to Global Refuge. Talk a little bit about that journey and how your founding values have guided the organization.

Krish: So our work began in 1939, supporting Lutheran pastors, professors, others who were fleeing Nazi Germany. We responded to every immigration crisis since then, whether it was the Vietnamese fleeing the fall of Saigon, or Cubans after Fidel Castro came to power, serving Ukrainians, Afghans more recently.

And I think our organization has realized how involved these communities have been in this work. And so that’s been really critical to our success in the last few decades.

“…we know that integration does not happen overnight. It takes not just a few days or a few weeks, but a few months and a few years. And so we know that whether it is picking up a refugee family from the airport, helping enroll their school-age children in public schools, to helping them find a job, addressing the mental trauma that so many of our clients face, that is the long welcome.”

Denver: Talk a little bit about the “long welcome.” I’d never heard that expression before, but share a story if you can that brings to life what that long-term community connection looks like, and how it helps a family really establish themselves and become part of their new neighborhood.

Krish: Well, we know that integration does not happen overnight. It takes not just a few days or a few weeks, but a few months and a few years. And so we know that whether it is picking up a refugee family from the airport, helping enroll their school-age children in public schools, to helping them find a job, addressing the mental trauma that so many of our clients face, that is the “long welcome.”

And we know that if we are able to support them in those first few weeks, those first few months, that it is a win-win because they are able to integrate successfully. We know our clients want to become valuable and contributing members of their communities, and so that’s this idea of accompanying them on that initial journey.

Denver: Talk a little bit about the unique challenges faced by displaced women and girls, and what your organization does to help, both in your policy work and your on-the-ground practices.

Krish: We know that so many women and girls are vulnerable when it comes to both internal and international displacement. And so what we try to do is address the root causes that so many of these girls and women are facing, whether it is gender-based violence, whether it’s child marriage, so many issues that lead them to migrate.

And so we know that if we help them, if we invest in them, we’re really investing in their families, in their communities. And so that’s really why we are focused on making sure that we do provide tailored care. But it’s not just about initial support, it’s really about empowerment because these are the women and girls that become the backbone of their families and their community.

Denver: You gave a wonderful TED speech, I guess it was about a year ago, and you talked about the politicization of immigration, said it was the Kryptonite to America’s superpower, which is immigration itself.

What are some of the most damaging misconceptions being perpetuated in the current political discourse? And what is the most effective way that you’re trying to counter these misconceptions?

Krish: It’s just so hard when you turn on the TV or tune into some political pundit, and you hear such fear mongering, scapegoating immigrants for basically every national crisis that our country faces.

And our point is that we’ve got to fight this fiction with fact, not just because it’s wrong to frame immigrants, these families, in inhumane terms, but also because it’s not good for the country. Rather than addressing violent crime and the opioid epidemic, affordable housing, what we’re doing is we’re trying to create this false sense of security by suggesting that if we shut down our borders, that will solve all of these problems. That’s just not the case.

And so that’s why I delivered this TED Talk explaining that we are a nation of immigrants. And so immigration has been such a critical part of our economic strength, the richness and diversity of our country. And so I think it’s really important for us to understand that we are a sovereign nation. We need to have a secure border, but we also need to strengthen legal pathways, because it’s the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do for our country.

Denver: Yeah. And let me ask you a little bit about fighting fiction with fact, because it sometimes doesn’t… it seems that fact doesn’t work the way it used to anymore. It just seems to be, the facts get politicized as, “That’s what they say.” “That’s not really true.” Or whatever.

I mean, have you kind of thought about the dynamics that are going on to fight this in a way that gets through, and gets people to really look at it from a different point of view?

Krish: Yeah. So I know that in some ways, the deck’s stacked against us in the sense that that great quote about how a lie has traveled halfway around the world as truth is lacing up. It is these outlandish claims, like even when you hear something like immigrants are eating cats and dogs, right? It is so absurd that I think it’s easy to get traction because in this environment of clickbait, that resonates unfortunately.

But I also believe, based on my experience of traveling to just very different parts of this country, that at the heart of it, Americans understand this issue if you can make it personal, but if you can also give them the big picture of what’s going on. At the same time, I think there is a changed dynamic for a couple reasons.

One, I think social media is obviously playing an important role. And so what ends up happening is that you find people who want to throw red meat to their base, and so they’re incentivized to be extreme and outlandishly absurd in their claims.

I think the second dynamic is that people are getting their media in echo chambers, and so some of our work is cut out for us because we need to get beyond people retreating to their corners, and making sure that people actually do hear the truth of the matter.

Denver: Yeah. And it just seems you have to repeat it and repeat it and repeat it.

Krish: Right. Exactly.

Denver: And when you’ve said it enough, you’ve got to say it more because it just seems it’s that repetition that is the only thing that’s going to change anything.

Well, the administration, as far as I know, has continued the indefinite refugee admissions ban and suspended resettlement funding. Tell us a little bit about the impact on the tens of thousands of refugees who may have already been approved and are now stranded overseas.

Krish: Yeah. I mean, it’s so sad when you take the example of our Afghan allies as one population, right? We announced when the military was withdrawing that our mission was far from over. These are allies who risked their lives in order to protect U.S. troops, our embassy, our agenda there, and yet we still have thousands who are facing Taliban retribution, who are stranded in Afghanistan and Pakistan and other countries.

And I think that’s what’s really important for us to understand. We made a promise, and it is national security officials who say that this risks our national security, our U.S. troops, if we don’t keep our word because God forbid, we are waging another 21st century war. Local assets are critical, and being able to recruit that local support requires that a promise made is a promise kept.

And so I think that’s where it is really frightening when you think about the fact that for Afghanistan, temporary protected status has been withdrawn because we hear from our clients the risks that they and their families are facing right now.

Denver: Yeah. And not nearly enough attention is being paid to the long-term impact. I mean, everything is so today and so transactional that nobody is looking at this issue the way you just talked about it. What happens five years from now? Who is going to be there to help us? And the answer’s going to be: not too many people, if anyone.

Krish: Exactly. And I think that’s where it is important to understand: It’s not just immigration organizations that are vocally opposing some of the administrative actions we’ve seen. It is veterans. It is Pentagon officials who understand what’s at stake for our troops, for our national security.

“Immigration is obviously a hot-button issue. It has been fascinating to see the American public shift in its support for this administration’s immigration policies. The latest poll actually has only 41% supporting and 57%, a significant majority, opposing because what we are seeing is the de-documentation of immigrants who came through legal ways. What we are seeing is the shutdown of legal pathways into this country.”

Denver: Given these policy shifts, Krish, how does your day-to-day mission change? How has it been impacted? Where do you focus your energy and your resources, compared to the way it was previously?

Krish: Well, to your point, it is hard at this moment to get people to focus on any one given issue, and there’s a lot being debated right now. Immigration is obviously a hot-button issue. It has been fascinating to see the American public shift in its support for this administration’s immigration policies.

The latest poll actually has only 41% supporting and 57%, a significant majority, opposing because what we are seeing is the de-documentation of immigrants who came through legal ways. What we are seeing is the shutdown of legal pathways into this country. And we’re seeing mass deportations that are made in an effort to meet these unrealistic quotas, hurting our communities, hurting families who have done nothing but just want to live a better life here.

We’re not talking about violent criminals who are now being deported. And I think that that extreme and unpopular stance is a real risk as this administration continues to pursue policies that are not supported by the American public.

Denver: And you’re talking about “continues to pursue.” It seems like there’s something new every single day. Just when I thought I heard it all, they come up with some other scheme, which is penal in a completely different fashion. It’s incredible.

Let’s talk a little bit about the federal government. You’ve always worked in partnership with the federal government. What’s that look like now, particularly as it relates to funding?

Krish: Yeah. I guess I’d say two things. One, we were obviously significantly impacted in the first two months of the administration. Part of this was DOGE’s effort to basically blow up the system. We actually had all of our reimbursements frozen. We were talking about, you know, we’re on a reimbursement basis. We don’t get a blank check. We have government audits. We have a third-party accounting firm that reviews our books. We have always had a perfect score when it comes to Charity Navigator, GuideStar, the government audits of our offices, of our accounts.

We’re really proud of that track record. We’re really proud of that longstanding partnership with the government. And so it was really hard when people were making false accusations, when basically it seemed like there was a strategy to kind of have nonprofits bleed out. That’s a really tough dynamic to see.

And then just the other dynamic that we saw was, just to give you one example, refugee resettlement. This is a program that has always had bipartisan support. We’ve resettled as many refugees under Republican as Democratic administrations, and yet this administration had a stop work order that was instituted.

They imposed an executive order basically suspending and banning refugee resettlement. And I think that’s problematic because there’s a reason why refugee resettlement has had strong support on both sides of the aisle. These are individuals who go to a third country or refugee camp. They wait years. They go through extreme vetting.

And only when they go through these multiple hoops do they ever get processed. Only 1% of refugees will ever get resettled in their lifetime. And so it’s just really sad when you see programs that have worked, that have had bipartisan support, shut down.

Denver: Yeah, it certainly is. Leaders in the advocacy space, and I get to talk to a lot of them, they’re navigating a very complex philanthropic climate. Krish, how do you approach conversations with your donor community about the importance of their partnership, and make the case that their support is more critical than ever when some of them sometimes are more reluctant than they were previously?

Krish: Well, I think part of the dynamic has been twofold. One is the fact that for so many of our institutional donors who fund the range of work, whether it’s immigration or food security, they’ve been receiving a lot of requests because of the turmoil that we’re seeing across so many different sectors.

And so I think there’s just growing need and fewer resources. I also think, to your point, for some of our individual donors, they see such outlandish claims in the news, on social media, and of course they’re asking questions like, What in the world is going on?

Thankfully, we’ve been so grateful to see the amazing support that has really shown up in solidarity with us in the last five months. We’ve seen so many donors who have said, How can we help support your work? We’ve seen so many individuals, institutions who have said, We support the work of welcome, and we want to help. And so I think that’s been pretty amazing to see.

Denver: Yeah. Krish, this work that you’re doing is relentless. I mean, you’re dealing with human trauma on one hand and immense political hostility on the other. Where do you, and where does your team find the hope, find the resilience to keep fighting day after day after day?

Krish: I think it is actually in the volunteer and donor community who have said, Look, we want to help. Let us know what we can do. I think that really gives me inspiration and the confidence that this work will continue.

Obviously, we still believe that it is the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do for the government. And I still believe that we will ultimately stand by these values, but I think it is just that, that grassroots support and passion for this work that gives me hope.

Denver: Your personal and professional work are centered on helping people find a new home. After seeing thousands of definitions of “home,” lost and rebuilt, how has your own personal definition of that word “home” changed?

Krish: I think for so many of our clients who are fleeing with next to nothing… they’re leaving all of their traditional family, their nuclear family behind because of the desperation of the circumstances, to see them rebuild their lives, to see them willing to take the courage, and travel halfway around the world with nothing, it’s just inspiring.

Denver: Yeah.

Krish: And then to see American communities really welcome these families as their neighbors, ultimately as their extended family, it’s amazing. To me, it is the generosity and spirit of the American people that I think I see us at our best.

And I know that there’s a lot of noise when you turn on social media and traditional media, but I see that enthusiasm. I see the personal connections that our clients and our local community and congregations and community-based groups make, and it’s beautiful.

And I think that’s what continues to inspire my work. It also, I think, is what inspires me to see these new definitions of what family look like, and I think it’s really amazing.

“…there is a lot of vitriol and dehumanization, and fear mongering. But I think at the end of the day, most Americans, what unifies us in our values around immigration is far stronger and greater than what divides us. And I think that’s where there’s an opportunity because immigration is front and center. We have an opportunity to say, ‘Look, sound immigration policy should be guided by data, by laws, by American values, not fear or politics.’”

Denver: Yeah, I had the privilege earlier in my career of heading up the fundraising campaign for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. And there is something about the selection process of people who decide to make that journey, in terms of their DNA, their courage, their optimism, that we really are getting the best of the best and not, as the current administration says, something different.

Krish: Yeah. And I think that’s such an important point to highlight because there is a lot of vitriol and dehumanization, and fear mongering. But I think at the end of the day, most Americans, what unifies us in our values around immigration is far stronger and greater than what divides us.

And I think that’s where there’s an opportunity because immigration is front and center. We have an opportunity to say, “Look, sound immigration policy should be guided by data, by laws, by American values, not fear or politics.”

And so I think that’s where I hope the national conversation will return as the American public becomes more aware of current policies. As I do see in the last few weeks, people have been tuning in, and what they’re seeing, they’re not liking.

Denver: No, that is absolutely right. For listeners who want to learn more about Global Refuge or financially support this incredible work that you are doing, tell us about your website and the information that visitors will find there.

Krish: Sure. And I really appreciate that question because we really need people to raise their voices as advocates, to talk with their families, to post on social media, to connect with their elected officials, to donate, to support the work of welcome. So our website has a lot of information on there. There you can find the donate button. It’s globalrefuge.org, so G-L-O-B-A-L R-E-F-U-G-E dot org.

Denver: Fantastic. Well, I want to thank you so much for being here today, Krish. The work you’re doing is so inspiring, and it was a real delight to have you on the program.

Krish: Thanks so much for the opportunity. Enjoyed the conversation.