Welcome to Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area's (LSSNCA) newsroom. LSSNCA, a human services and immigration relief and refugee welcome agency throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington D.C. metro area serves those on their immigration journey. Read how we're working together to amplify voices of refugees and asylum-seekers, create loving and responsible foster homes for unaccompanied children and refugee minors, advocate for new neighbors, and work torward creating a more just, welcoming, and thriving community.
For press inquiries, please email media@lssnca.org.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) strongly condemns the administration’s latest attack on refugees who found safety in the United States. A memo, issued on Feb. 18, 2026, directs ICE to arrest and detain refugees who have not adjusted their immigration status to legal permanent resident (green card holder) after one year.
Anastasia’s journey from war-torn Ukraine to rebuilding her family’s life in Maryland reflects both the promise of refuge and the uncertainty many Ukrainians now face as humanitarian protections near expiration.
This story highlights LSSNCA’s long-standing collaboration with Starbucks Coffee Company and the National Refugee & Immigrant Alliance Chapter Engagement team. Through trust, shared values, volunteerism, and generosity, this partnership has helped the Resource Center provide essential items and dignified support to neighbors in need—showing how one committed advocate can inspire lasting impact across an entire community.
For faith leaders supporting and ministering to anxious immigrants across the United States, 2025 was fraught with challenges and setbacks. For many in these religious circles, the coming year could be worse.
LSSNCA unequivocally condemns the administration's expansion of the list of countries subject to harmful travel restrictions.
Read the story of Mya — a former teacher and journalist who fled Myanmar after the 2021 military coup.
News that an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. is landing especially hard in Northern Virginia, home to one of the country’s largest Afghan communities.
The shooting of two members of the National Guard has prompted the administration to impose new restrictions—and resettlement organizations are reeling.
LSSNCA condemns the senseless violence that claimed the life of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically injured U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. At the same time, LSSNCA is deeply alarmed by the administration’s actions targeting individuals and families from Afghanistan following this devastating incident in the nation’s capital.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) strongly condemns the Trump administration’s reported directive to reopen the cases of nearly a quarter of a million refugees, threatening to revoke their long-standing protection status and destabilize lives built in safety and hope.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is honored to announce the appointment of Stephen “Steve” Glaude, President and CEO of The Coalition, to its Board of Directors. Mr. Glaude brings extensive leadership experience in nonprofit management, community engagement, and government relations from his longstanding career in the government, private, and nonprofit sectors.
This Thanksgiving, we give thanks for every congregation, donor, volunteer, and partner who alongside us serves our neighbors. Your generosity keeps our mission alive. Your faith strengthens our work. Your kindness gives us hope.
