Chaldean refugee assets
- Family
- The Chaldean culture holds a strong value on family interaction, support, and involvement.
- This support system provides refugees with resources for their journey to the United States.
- Many refugees live with relatives for a few years, sometimes multiple families in one household.
- The family involvement is centered around celebrations, family mealtime, and time spent with family members.
- Religion
- The Chaldean culture is focused on the Catholic religion, providing a sense of involvement, support, helping others.
- The religious leaders and churches provide financial support, support for services, and support for education, focusing strongly on English learning programs (ESL).
- Government Resources
- There are numerous organizations in Michigan that provide medical assistance, food assistance, transportation services, educational services for both children and adults, and housing support.
- Specifically in Metro Detroit, ESL classrooms in public schools are being flooded with refugee children learning both educational programs and English as a second language.
- Below is a link to the MDHHS website, providing resources for refugees in Michigan.
- There are numerous organizations in Michigan that provide medical assistance, food assistance, transportation services, educational services for both children and adults, and housing support.
Chaldean refugee challenges
- Education:
- In Iraq, children had little to no education because families could not afford to send their children to school.
- When immigrating to the U.S., the children are placed in an age appropriate grade level in school.
- This causes difficulties in succeeding in education because they are behind.
- This causes difficulties in succeeding in education because they are behind.
- Adults who had respective jobs in Iraq, such as a medical doctor or lawyer, cannot practice that profession in the U.S.
- They have to work jobs that require no education, affecting their overall well-being.
- They have to work jobs that require no education, affecting their overall well-being.
- In Iraq, children had little to no education because families could not afford to send their children to school.
- Housing:
- Most refugees live in Warren or Sterling Heights in low-income small apartment complexes.
- Multiple families will live in the small apartments because of low income.
- Many refugees have multiple children, averaging 4-6.
- Many refugees have multiple children, averaging 4-6.
- Most refugees live in Warren or Sterling Heights in low-income small apartment complexes.
- Language:
- Refugees typically do not speak English.
- This is difficult when finding a job, attending school, and acclimating to the community and culture.
- In school, children are required to learn in English with the help of ESL programs.
- This is difficult when finding a job, attending school, and acclimating to the community and culture.
- Refugees typically do not speak English.
Sociopolitical considerations
Deportation
- In June 2017, ICE swept Michigan in search of 114 refugees with criminal records to arrest.
- They are currently waiting on a judge ruling, along with 85 others outside of Michigan, regarding their possible deportation from the United States.
- Most of these individuals have served their jail time.
- Returning back to Iraq would be a guaranteed persecution based on their religious views.
- They are currently waiting on a judge ruling, along with 85 others outside of Michigan, regarding their possible deportation from the United States.
Eight year old from Detroit wears a t-shirt with a picture of her
detained father outside of a rally on June 16 in Detroit.
Image from www.slate.com news article
detained father outside of a rally on June 16 in Detroit.
Image from www.slate.com news article
Organizations for assistance
United Community Family Services
- Seek to aid and restore refugee families.
- Deliver innovative care, support and education to low-income families, provide meals and basic needs to those in need.
- Provide services to again refugees over the age of 60.
- Offer college scholarships to high school students.
- Provides a community self-help program for individuals in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties.
- Deliver innovative care, support and education to low-income families, provide meals and basic needs to those in need.
- Click the link below to donate and learn more
Chaldean Community Foundation
- Provides assistance to Chaldean refugees.
- Originally founded to serve the growing needs of local Middle Eastern refugee populations.
- 610 of their clients have been placed in full-time jobs.
- They provide car loans to low-income Chaldean refugees, totally $390,000 in 2017.
- They provide housing and education assistance.
- Click the link below to donate and learn more