Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) has appointed Kim Bolton to its board of directors.
LSSNCA applauds the federal court’s Aug. 31, 2025, ruling that halted the unlawful deportation of 76 unaccompanied Guatemalan children, many who are members of persecuted Indigenous communities, currently in U.S. custody.
On the fourth anniversary of the seizure of Kabul, LSSNCA honors Afghan allies, reflects on America’s promise of safety, and calls for renewed action to protect and resettle those still at risk.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) congratulates Bishop Yehiel Curry on his election as the next presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is deeply alarmed by Congress’ passage of the rescission bill (H.R. 4). Once signed into law, it will cancel $9 billion in congressionally appropriated funding for fiscal year 2025, including critical support for foreign aid and refugee programs. These cuts will have devastating consequences for millions of vulnerable children and families around the world, denying them access to lifesaving services.
LSSNCA statement on the impact of the budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1), which was signed into law on July 4, 2025.
LSSNCA congratulates Rev. Dr. Philip Hirsch on his election as the next bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
LSSNCA strongly denounces the administration’s recent proclamation imposing sweeping travel bans and restrictions on nationals from 19 countries. These travel bans and restrictions were issued under guise of national security. However, categorizing people based on their country of birth is both wrong and discriminatory.
LSSNCA joined the Interfaith Immigration Coalition to express disappointment in the House’s passage of the reconciliation bill. As it stands, the bill poses a grave threat to the nation's moral fabric. If passed, the legislation would fundamentally reshape our communities by diverting unprecedented sums to detention, deportation, and border militarization while cutting essential health and food assistance programs that make our communities stronger.
LSSNCA is honored to announce the appointment of Eric Hembree to its Board of Directors. As the former Comptroller for the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), Mr. Hembree managed $5 billion annually in humanitarian assistance programs, domestically and worldwide. His financial stewardship enabled timely, life-saving humanitarian interventions and sustained the U.S. refugee resettlement infrastructure.
LSSNCA joins the community in mourning the passing of U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA-11, a dedicated public servant and a steadfast advocate for refugees, immigrants and those seeking safety.
LSSNCA welcomes the district court’s recent ruling in Pacito v. Trump, which establishes a compliance framework requiring the government to promptly follow the preliminary injunction.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area is deeply concerned about the fate of Afghans and Cameroonians whose lives are now at risk due to the administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for individuals from Afghanistan and Cameroon.
LSSNCA joins members of the #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign to decry the Trump administration’s decision to revoke the legal status of people who had received humanitarian parole through the government’s “CHNV” program.
LSSNCA strongly opposes the administration’s directive to halt the processing of green cards for refugees and individuals granted asylum in the United States. Families and individuals to whom our government has granted protection should be able to proceed with their green card applications, a necessary step in their path to legal permanency.
After two months of prolonged delays, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) received reimbursement for most of the nearly $4 million owed for services rendered in partnership with the federal government to support refugees in resettling with dignity in our communities across the Washington, D.C. metro area.
On the 45th Anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, LSSNCA joined members of the #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign in urging elected leaders to uphold our nation's values and restore protections.
LSSNCA is honored to announce the appointment of Lynn Jacquez to its Board of Directors. Ms. Jacquez brings an extensive background in law, government relations, and immigration and refugee policy, making her an invaluable addition to LSSNCA’s governing body.
Hundreds of refugees in the Washington, D.C. metro area are at risk for homelessness and food insecurity as federal grant funding still has not been released. Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), which has served the Washington, D.C. metro area for over 100 years, has not been reimbursed for nearly $2 million in essential services rendered, putting our new neighbors and LSSNCA’s operations in jeopardy.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) strongly denounces the false claims directed at Lutheran organizations and the vital humanitarian work we do.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is gravely concerned by the directive it received from the administration Friday to immediately halt Department of State funded services to refugees recently resettled in the United States.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) denounces the administration’s efforts to rapidly deport people in the United States, including people who have entered seeking safety.
LSSNCA urges policymakers to reverse the decision to cancel refugee flights, fulfill promises made to refugee families, and recommit to a resettlement system that upholds our nation's values as a safe haven for those seeking protection.
Lutheran Social Services of National Capital Area (LSSNCA) denounces the president’s executive order ending humanitarian protection and denying access to safety to people fleeing violence and persecution.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) condemns the president’s executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) indefinitely beginning January 27.
As the nation transitions, LSSNCA stands ready to work with the new administration to uphold America’s promise as a beacon of hope for those seeking safety and opportunity.
Lutheran Social Services National Capital Area (LSSNCA) submitted this statement for the record to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Hearing, “Remain in Mexico,” on January 16, 2025.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) applauds the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement to redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela for an additional 18 months.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) mourns the death of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who lived a life of faith and service.
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, LSSNCA looks forward to collaborating with the new leadership to honor the nation's tradition of welcoming those fleeing persecution.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) celebrates the recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which reaffirms the right of individuals to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is honored to announce several key updates to its Board of Directors, including the appointment of Larry Bartlett, who directed the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for the U.S. Department of State for more than 15 years, and the appointment of Marie Martinez Israelite to Board Chair.
LSSNCA applauds the Biden administration's announcement yesterday that the U.S. refugee admissions ceiling will remain at 125,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2025. This announcement follows the achievement of 100,000 refugee admissions in FY24, signaling that the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has been successful in rebuilding following the decimation of the program during the Trump administration. LSSNCA has been on the front lines of this effort, offering safety and a warm welcome to 1,808 refugee families seeking a fresh start in the D.C. metro area during Fiscal Year 2024.
LSSNCA condemns the Biden administration’s gross expansion of restrictions to accessing asylum - effectively closing our doors to people seeking humanitarian protection at the U.S. Mexico border if encounters are above a daily average of 1,500 - released in today’s joint Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule.
“The restrictions outlined in today’s final rule undermine the legal and human right to seek asylum,” said Kristyn Peck, LSSNCA CEO. “By lauding the success of early implementation of the order in cutting border encounters, the administration is effectively dismissing its moral and legal responsibility to provide a safe haven for those fleeing life or death situations. The asylum system is in need of reform, but the answers are not to deny the dignity and right of individuals to seek safety at our doorstep,” she said.
Read our full statement.
LSSNCA calls on leaders and public figures to use their platforms to promote truth, respect, and unity rather than peddle harmful and divisive rhetoric. We stand in solidarity with the Haitian community in Springfield and across the United States, reaffirming our commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice and our belief in the inherent dignity of all humans.
Read our full statement.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) condemns the political violence, mourns the death of Corey Comperatore and expresses our solidarity with his family and other survivors of the traumatic event that occurred at a rally for former President Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Lutheran Social Services of National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Nikki Salzman as its Chief Development Officer. With a distinguished career in nonprofit fundraising and communications, and a steadfast dedication to advancing the work of welcome for forcibly displaced persons, Nikki brings invaluable experience to LSSNCA.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) celebrates the recent executive action taken by the Biden administration to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.
Click to read our full statement and comment from CEO Kristyn Peck.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) opposes the Biden administration’s Executive Order today which effectively closes the border to people seeking asylum. The U.S. deserves an immigration and asylum system that embodies America's spirit of welcome. “The real solution is investing in a more humane asylum system that recognizes the human dignity in those seeking refuge at our borders and that adequately resources the courts to more efficiently process asylum applications,” said LSSNCA CEO Kristyn Peck.
Click to read the full statement.
LSSNCA expresses concern that the asylum adjustments rule announced May 9 by the Biden administration may substantially elevate the asylum rejection rate for migrants lacking legal representation and sufficient time to navigate the asylum process.
LSSNCA joined African Communities Together, ECDC, and more than 100 other organizations to request an immediate extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia in response to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in the country.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) extends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the six workers presumed dead after the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge accident in Baltimore.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) urges Congress to pass the recently introduced Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 5856). We invite you to join us in advocating for the passage of H.R. 5856 by reaching out to your local representative. By passing this legislation, we can send a powerful message that the United States is committed to combating human trafficking, supporting survivors, and creating a safer and more just society.
LSSNCA was hopeful to see a bipartisan border bill finally presented - recognizing that the modernization of our immigration system is long overdue. LSSNCA supports the United States’ right to increase security measures at the border, yet, not at the expense of vulnerable individuals fleeing persecution.
LSSNCA calls upon lawmakers to prioritize a humane and just immigration system that respects the rights and dignity of those seeking refuge on U.S. shores and prioritizes meaningful access and pathways to those seeking safety. We urge them to reject any deal that compromises these principles and instead work towards comprehensive immigration reform that reflects the values upon which our nation was built.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is honored to announce its selection as one of five recipients of the Case Management Pilot Program (CMPP) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. This federally funded initiative is designed to provide voluntary, trauma-informed, and culturally competent case management, along with related services, to asylum-seekers and others in need of humanitarian relief participating in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) applauds today’s decision by Judge Dana Sabraw to prohibit separating families at the border, underscoring the values of human dignity and the right to safety which must underpin our asylum system.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), a human services and immigration relief and refugee welcome agency, is honored to be selected by Governor Wes Moore’s Maryland Service Corps program as a host organization.
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation has awarded LSSNCA a generous grant of $85,000 in support of our Refugee and Immigrant Services Program for fiscal year 2023.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) strongly supports the Protecting Unaccompanied Children Act introduced by Senator Durbin yesterday, and also applauds the complementary letter released October 23, by Sen. Durbin and other concerned senators to the Department of Labor echoing our calls to hold companies accountable to follow existing child labor laws and regulations.
“The proposed legislation recognizes the unique vulnerabilities children fleeing violence and persecution who arrive in the United States alone face,” said Kristyn Peck, LSSNCA CEO. “It provides much-needed safeguards and protection by filling in critical gaps for unaccompanied children in the U.S.,” she continued.
