Voice for Refuge Action Fund (Voice for Refuge)

Voice for Refuge Action Fund (Voice for Refuge) is a left-of-center activist organization that supports pro-refugee and immigration-expansionist policies at the local, state, and national level. 1

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Immigration Policy
Website: voiceforrefuge.org
Formation:

2020

Executive Director:

Erol Kecic

Location: Elkhart, IN View on map

Contents

    Voice for Refuge claimed that the Trump administration was “on a rampage” to keep refugees out of the United States, 2 scores all 535 members of the U.S. Congress based on the liberalism of their refugee-policy positions, 3 and called on the Biden administration to take action to support refugees and immigrants following the 2020 election. 4

    History and Leadership

    Voice for Refuge Action Fund (Voice for Refuge) was launched in 2020 to increase the power of refugee voters and increase representation of former refugees and refugee supporters in all levels of government. 4

    In 2022, the organization’s tax-exempt status was automatically revoked by the IRS for failure to report a Form 990 series return for three consecutive year; 5 in April 2023, the IRS issued a determination letter restoring Voice for Refuge’s tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(4) social-welfare lobbying organization. 6

    Erol Kekic is the executive director of Voice for Refuge Action. 7 Kekic is also a senior vice president at the faith-based organization Church World Service. 8 9 10 Kaitlyn Voz is the communications and advocacy manager for Voice for Refuge Action Fund. Previously, she was a field organizer for the unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign of Biden administration U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (D). 11

    Activities and Funding

    Voice for Refuge Action Fund (Voice for Refuge) is a left-of-center activist organization that supports pro-refugee and pro-immigration policies at the local, state, and national level. 1 The organization operates a scorecard for all 535 members of the U.S. Congress based on their refugee policy positions 3 and supports the election of pro-refugee candidates at all levels of government. 1

    Voice for Refuge claimed that the Trump administration was “on a rampage” to keep refugees out of the United States. 2 The organization believes that refugees should be represented in government and have a voice that represents policies supporting refugees. 1

    Voice for Refuge created a petition to urge the Biden administration to declare that “all refugees are welcome” without discrimination. 12 In 2023, Voice for Refuge co-signed a letter to Biden administration Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to extend deportation protection and extend work authorization for Ukrainians who were paroled into the United States at ports of entry since the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022. 13 That same year, Voice for Refuge Action Fund endorsed the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act that was co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA). 14

    In 2022, Voice for Refuge scored all 535 members of Congress on their response to Afghan refugees. The organization also collected signatures in support of the Afghan Adjustment Act and released toolkits for candidates on refugee-related issues. 4

    Voice for Refuge also works in conjunction with other organizations at the state-level to advance refugee policy. The organization operates a Legislators for Welcome pledge for state representatives that support its pro-refugee policy objectives. 15

    In 2023, Voice for Refuge launched their “State Legislators for Welcome” initiative in which state legislators are encouraged to sign a pledge promising to, “publicly call for an increase in refugee arrivals, to support State investments in refugee resettlement and key services, and to consult with refugee and immigrant leaders in their state.” 16 17 As of August 2023, the initiative has 129 legislator signatures from roughly 34 states and the District of Columbia. 16

    Political Endorsements

    Soon after Voice for Refuge Action Fund’s launch in 2020, the organization endorsed 38 refugee, immigrant, and pro-refugee candidates for running office. Voice for Refuge endorsed the 2020 presidential candidacy of Joe Biden (D) 18 and called on the Biden administration to take action to support refugees and immigrants following the 2020 election. 4

    In 2022, Voice for Refuge endorsed 62 candidates at the local, state, and federal level in the primary and general election cycles. 4 Voice for Refuge’s endorsements included the U.S. Senate campaigns of Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), 19  Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CA), and then-Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman (D) and the U.S. House campaigns of Rep. Joe Neguse (D-WA), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-WA), Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), and Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA). Voice for Refuge also endorsed the gubernatorial campaigns of Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D), Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaigns of left-of-center political activist Stacey Abrams (D-GA) and former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX.) 20 21

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    References

    1.  “Home.” Voice for Refuge. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/.
    2. “Endorsement: Joe Biden, President & Kamala Harris, Vice President.” Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.wpengine.com/endorsement-joe-biden-president-kamala-harris-vice-president/.
    3. “Voice for Refuge Senate Scorecards.” Voice for Refuge. December 2022. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/UPDATED-Voice-for-Refuge-Full-Scores-and-Ranks.pdf.
    4. “Our Mission.” Voice for Refuge Action.  Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/our-mission/.
    5. “Voice for Refuge Action Fund Inc.” Internal Revenue Service Search Results for EIN: 84-3906377. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/.
    6. “Determination Letter.” Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service. April 30, 2023. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_84-3906377_VOICEFORREFUGEACTIONFUNDINC_11092022_00.pdf.
    7. [1] “voice for Refuge Endorsements.” Voice for Refuge. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/endorsements/yesenia-rodriguez/.
    8. “Erol Kekic.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/erol-kekic-98562b4/.
    9. “Vice for Refuge Expresses Outrage, Loss of Trust by Biden Decision on Resettlement.” Voice for Refuge. April 16, 2021. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/press-media/voice-for-refuge-expresses-outrage-loss-of-trust-by-biden-decision-on-resettlement/.
    10. “Erol Kekic.” Voice for Refuge. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/team-members/erol-kekic/.
    11. [1] “Experience.” Kaitlyn Voz LinkedIn. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlyn-renee-kline/details/experience/.
    12. “All Refugees Welcome! #WelcomeWithoutDiscrimination.” Action Network. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/all-refugees-welcome-welcomewithoutdiscrimination.
    13. “Re: Continuity of temporary protection, work authorization, and other benefits for Ukrainian humanitarian parolees.” Letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. February 6, 2023. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/foia/UkrainianHumanitarianParolees-Kassa.pdf.
    14. “Jayapal, Booker, and Smith Introduce Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act.” Office of U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal. April 20, 2023. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://jayapal.house.gov/2023/04/20/jayapal-booker-and-smith-introduce-dignity-for-detained-immigrants-act/.
    15. “State Policy.” Voice for Refuge. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/state-policy/.
    16. “19 legislators from Vermont join group to sign pledge to welcome refugees.” VermontBiz, August 9, 2023. https://vermontbiz.com/news/2023/august/09/19-legislators-vermont-join-group-sign-pledge-welcome-refugees
    17. “State Legislators for Welcome.” Voice for Refugee, Accessed August 16, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/state-legislators-for-welcome/
    18. “Voice for Refuge Endorses Joe Biden for President of the United States.” Voice for Refuge. September 24, 2020. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/press-media/voice-for-refuge-endorses-joe-biden-for-president-of-the-united-states/.
    19. [1] “Raphael Warnock.” Voice for Refuge Endorsements. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/endorsements/raphael-warnock/.
    20. “Facebook Post.” Voice for Refuge. October 20, 2022. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/VoiceforRefuge/posts/pfbid037LFYg7uKKKZFYTRrrBY494vx76a66GavHBzg5w9ojLDMTQVft5sE9w6bic6UgBHVl.
    21. “Endorsements.” Voice for Refuge. Accessed August 6, 2023. https://voiceforrefuge.org/endorsements/