Adapted from the Office of Public Affairs
Episcopal Migration Ministries will close its satellite office in Miami at the end of July.
The Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson, Director of Episcopal Migration Ministries, said the closing is due in large part to changing policy regarding Cuban immigrants.
“Episcopal Migration Ministries–Miami began in 1980 in response to the Department of State’s request for assistance in processing Cubans arriving to the United States during the Mariel boatlift,” Stevenson said.
Under the direction of Charlande Michel, the Miami office was approved by the federal government in 1987 to participate in the refugee resettlement program and has since resettled more than 3,300 refugees from Bosnia, Burma, Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
The Miami office also has provided immigration legal services in South Florida.
The Miami office has helped more than 27,000 immigrants establish new lives in the United States, Stevenson said. “Episcopal Migration Ministries is thankful for the work of these dedicated professionals over the decades.”
There are eight staff members in the Miami office.
Episcopal Migration Ministries is a ministry of the Episcopal Church, and is one of nine national agencies responsible for resettling refugees in the United States in partnership with the government. Episcopal Migration Ministries has 31 affiliate offices in 23 states.