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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah

@krishvignarajah.bsky.social
592 followers 161 following 178 posts

Proud mom | President & CEO @globalrefuge.bsky.social | Policy Director in Obama White House | #RefugeesWelcome #ImmigrationReform

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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Thank you to @meng.house.gov and @repkweisimfume.bsky.social for standing with refugees and immigrants and for supporting policies that expand opportunity, protect dignity, and strengthen communities across the country. We’re grateful for your partnership and leadership.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A refugee program that centers one group and sidelines all others is an abdication of our global humanitarian leadership and an abandonment of thousands of vulnerable families who put their faith in our country.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In my latest newsletter, I write about an urgent reality that deserves far more attention: millions of people are already being displaced by climate-driven disasters, in a crisis that was foreseeable, preventable, and is still largely unaddressed. www.linkedin.com/pulse/climat...
linkedin.com
Climate Displacement Is a Humanitarian Emergency. It's Time to Treat It Like One.
This week, world leaders are gathered in New York for Climate Week and the opening of the UN General Assembly. The conversations will likely center on emissions targets, energy transitions, and who ow...
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Labor Day isn’t just a day off. It’s a celebration of the workers, unions, and movements that built the eight-hour workday, safer job sites, and the dignity of a fair wage. That history of people organizing and showing up for one another is the same spirit that has always driven America's progress.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Absolutely tragic: a 20-yr-old honors student, 8 days into college, is dead.   His family believes he took his own life under the weight of having his status stripped and being made to wear an ankle monitor. My heart is with his loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.   1/
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
A few weeks ago, I got a question I often get lately: "Has it ever been this bad?" I understand the impulse. The headlines feel unprecedented. But I know enough about U.S. immigration policy history, and my own family's story, to know that the answer is actually "yes, we’ve been here before.”
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Five years ago, the world watched the fall of Kabul. Many assume the evacuation marked the end of our Afghan resettlement effort. In reality, it was only the beginning. Many Afghan allies remain separated from family members or stranded despite being vetted and approved through lawful pathways.
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
“They now face an impossible choice: remain without status and risk arrest and deportation, or return to a Haiti marred by gang violence, kidnapping and the collapse of basic services.” More from our President & CEO, @krishvignarajah.bsky.social, in The Guardian today 👇
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
My thoughts in @theguardian.com about the contradiction at the heart of terminating TPS for Haiti and the devastating impact it’s poised to have on ~350,000 Haitians legally residing in the U.S. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Seventy-five years ago this week, the world came together to build a system of protection for people fleeing persecution. The United States helped shape that system from the start, then wrote it into our own law with the Refugee Act of 1980.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Children should never become invisible in our immigration debates. I wrote about five things I wish more Americans knew—and why we must protect the rights, dignity, and safety of every child. www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-most-am…
linkedin.com
What Most Americans Don't Know About Children in Immigration Detention
We debate immigration in this country with such intensity. Border security, asylum policy, legal pathways — we argue all of it, loudly and often.
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
As these deaths continue to mount, Congress has approved an additional $70B in new enforcement funding—and is negotiating even more funding right now. TAKE ACTION: Tell your MOCs to protect the rights, dignity, safety, and lives of immigrants & refugees in detention and beyond: bit.ly/4yqwQi4 🔗🚨
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Global Refuge Advocacy Action Center
Global Refuge
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
In 2026 alone, 4 people have been killed by ICE in the streets. Another 21 have died while in ICE custody. Joan Sebastian Guerrero. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal. Behind each number is a name, a family, and a grieving community. We mourn with them and demand accountability.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52
Joan Sebastian Guerrero, 26
Adrian Andreas Florian, 85
Felix Alcorta-Rodriguez, 63
Mamuka Artmeladze, 43
Denny Adán González, 33
Aled Damien Carbonell-Betancourt, 27
Alejandro Cabrera Clemente, 49
Tuan Van Bui, 55
José Guadalupe Ramos-Solano, 52
Royer Pérez Jiménez, 19
Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41
Emmanuel Cleeford Damas, 56
Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi, 59
Alberto Gutiérrez Reyes, 48
Jairo García-Hernández, 27
Lorth Sim, 59
Heber Sánchez Domínguez, 34
Alex Pretti, 37
Renee Good, 37
Victor Manuel Díaz, 36
Parady La, 46
Luis Beltrán Yañez-Cruz, 68
Luis Gustavo Nuñez Caceres, 42
Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55
Keith Porter, 43
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Absolutely awful. Two fatal ICE shootings in under a week, and in both cases, no body cameras to show what actually happened. Independent, transparent investigations are the bare minimum here. No matter who or where, ICE does not get to play judge, jury, and executioner.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
In my latest newsletter, I reflect on why I believe this country will always be a work in progress, and why all of us have a role in shaping what comes next. Read more: www.linkedin.com/pulse/unfinished-i…
linkedin.com
An Unfinished Idea at 250
This past Fourth of July carried two meanings at once. There was the celebration and the rituals rightfully commemorating a country that once dared to declare itself into existence — parades, popsicle...
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
"“The Justices rightly recognized that the U.S. Constitution is clear and unambiguous: if you are born in this country and subject to its jurisdiction, you are a citizen of this country." - @krishvignarajah.bsky.social 📰 Full statement: bit.ly/4oVQs9n #birthrightcitizenship #immigrationpolicy
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Global Refuge Welcomes Supreme Court Decision Upholding Birthright Citizenship | Global Refuge
The United States Supreme Court today ruled 6-3 that President Trump's executive order attempting to deny citizenship to certain children born on American soil is unconstitutional.
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
#SCOTUS just issued a ruling that allows asylum seekers to be turned back at our borders. As a reminder, seeking asylum is not only legal in the U.S., it's a recognized human right. We must create a system rooted in compassion & justice that upholds our history of providing refuge to those in need.
Seeking asylum is a human right.
[Global Refuge logo]
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
BREAKING: SCOTUS ruled 6-3 that the Trump admin may proceed with terminating #TPS for nationals of #Haiti & #Syria. 🚨 The ruling clears the way for the administration to strip legal status and work authorization from roughly 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians. 📰 Full statement: bit.ly/44AiGgl
[Global Refuge logo]
Breaking:
Supreme Court Allows Termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Syria
globalrefuge.org/press
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Refugees have always been part of the American story. Stand boldly with your neighbors—on #WorldRefugeeDay and every day! Take action today: globalrefuge.org/solidarity 🚨🔗 #RefugeeAwarenessMonth #RefugeesWelcome
Celebrating World Refugee Day
[Global Refuge logo]
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
At Global Refuge, we commemorate Juneteenth by recognizing that not all journeys to America were chosen, and continuing to advocate for the rights of all marginalized communities.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Some of the big stars at this year's World Cup have refugee backgrounds. I spoke with the BBC about the sharp contrast between celebrating them and the drastic cuts to U.S. refugee admissions. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
World Cup 2026: The rise of the refugee stars representing Germany, Canada, Australia and more
Germany and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, whose family fled Sierra Leone's civil war, is among those campaigning for a change in global attitudes around refugees.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
At Global Refuge, we are once again saying enough is enough. What’s happening at Delaney Hall is abhorrent and we simply cannot stand by and allow this treatment of immigrants to continue. And if the budget reconciliation is passed, this kind of detention will receive even more funding.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
New analysis in a report from @nber.org and @colorado.edu underscores a critical point: immigration crackdowns aren’t translating into more jobs for Americans. In fact, the research shows reduced labor demand in key sectors—and fewer opportunities for U.S.-born workers.
colorado.edu
Heightened ICE enforcement harms US-born workers, shrinks workforce
A new study shows that heightened immigration enforcement reduces employment opportunities for some U.S. born men while shrinking the overall workforce,
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
My first LinkedIn newsletter is out today. If you're someone trying to navigate complexity without losing your sense of purpose — or your sense of humor — I hope you’ll subscribe and join me. www.linkedin.com/pulse/living...
linkedin.com
Living With Big Questions in a Complicated World
Late at night, after I’ve sent my last email, my phone stops buzzing and my daughters are finally asleep, my mind drifts to everything I’ve pushed aside to get through the day. It’s the moment when th...
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
On Memorial Day, we pause to remember all who gave their lives in service to this country, among them, the refugees and immigrants who chose this country as their own and then gave everything to defend it. We honor them today.
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Harvey G. Cohen @cultrhack.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
@krishvignarajah.bsky.social, President & CEO of Global Refuge, asks why Trump’s GOP is so anti-immigrant when “half of Fortune 500 companies were created by an immigrant or their child, patents and Nobel prizes are disproportionately awarded to immigrants.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=64cI...
youtube.com
'It doesn't line up with reality:' courts overwhelmingly rebuke ICE practices
YouTube video by MS NOW
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
There’s a reason why ICE has lost 10,000 times in detention cases — and why it’s losing in the court of public opinion. My thoughts on @velshi.com about landmark reporting from @kyledcheney.bsky.social, who exposed the vast number of illegal detentions of Dreamers, children, refugees and more. 👇
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Ali Velshi @velshi.com · 17/05/2026
Judges overwhelmingly rebuke ICE practices in court. “The administration wants the narrative to line up with their campaign rhetoric, but it doesn’t line up with reality," says @krishvignarajah.bsky.social. "It never was about immigration enforcement and deterrence," adds @allenorr.bsky.social.
msnbc.com
'It doesn't line up with reality:' courts overwhelmingly rebuke ICE practices
President Trump’s rhetoric about immigration is not matching up with how policy is playing out in the courts. According to an analysis by Politico, the administration has lost more than 10,000 cases in federal district courts, an overwhelming rebuke by judges of ICE’s practices and due process breaches. “The administration wants the narrative to line up with their campaign rhetoric but it doesn’t line up with reality,” Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge, tells Ali Velshi.
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Ali Velshi @velshi.com · 17/05/2026
Please join me @velshimsnow.bsky.social 10a-1p w/ Mychael Schnell @osbornforne.bsky.social @krishvignarajah.bsky.social @allenorr.bsky.social @hartmannreport.com @stevenacook.bsky.social @stevebenen.com @cmgreer.bsky.social @daralind.bsky.social 1/2 #Velshi
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Congrats to Jeopardy! champ Jamie Ding on his game winning streak and thanks for reminding America in our 250th year that immigrants contribute to every part of life here – even something as fun and seemingly “trivial” as a game show! www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
usatoday.com
Jamie Ding hopes 'Jeopardy!' run shed 'positive light' on immigrants
The Princeton grad's 31-show winning streak came to an end earlier this week.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
How we treat children in our custody is a test of our national character. We have a responsibility to protect kids, not to rush them through deportation proceedings while simultaneously closing off the very pathways that allow them to reunite with family. www.cnn.com/2026/04/28/p...
cnn.com
Exclusive: Trump moves to accelerate deportations of migrant children in US custody | CNN Politics
The Trump administration is taking steps to accelerate the deportations of migrant children in US custody amid White House pressure to quickly move kids through the system, according to administration...
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
"Tomorrow’s arguments carry enormous consequences, not just for Haitian & Syrian TPS holders, but potentially for more than a million people across 17 nationalities who rely on this protection." - @krishvignarajah.bsky.social 📰Read our full statement: bit.ly/4ua9lql #Haiti #Syria #TPS
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STATEMENT: Supreme Court hearing on TPS for Haiti and Syria
Global Refuge released a statement in advance of the Supreme Court hearing on TPS for Haiti and Syria on April 29, 2026.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
We asked them to risk their lives for us. They did. We promised to bring them here. We haven't. Now we're offering them the Taliban or the DRC.   I joined @theweekendprime.bsky.social to talk about the 1,100 Afghan allies -- including 400 kids -- waiting to see if the US will keep its promise.
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The Assignment with Antonia Hylton @theassignmentmsnow.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
JOINING US - Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, Farnaz Fassihi, @levin.house.gov , @goangelo.bsky.social , @maxrose.bsky.social , Margaret Donovan, @krishvignarajah.bsky.social , @nikkimcr.bsky.social @davidlitt.bsky.social, @anthonycoley.bsky.social @jasonselvig.bsky.social
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
As Congress considers another budget bill this week, @globalrefuge.bsky.social joins millions across nine Christian denominations in calling for legislation that reflects just, humane immigration policy.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Stripping people of the ability to work doesn’t make anyone safer. It only makes asylum seekers more vulnerable to exploitation, to homelessness, to hunger – and more likely to be dependent on community resources. Your voice really matters here: globalrefuge.org/AsylumAction
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
BREAKING: TPS for Haiti has passed in the House! Global Refuge is grateful for the bipartisan support that made this victory possible. 🎉 Thank you to those of you who contacted your representative! We urge the Senate to continue this push and secure lasting stability for Haitian neighbors.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Immigrants in America aren't just neighbors and community members. They're a critical part of our economy. The next time you hear someone question whether immigrants "contribute" — the numbers speak for themselves.
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
TAKE ACTION: The admin has sought to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, potentially exposing hundreds of thousands of people to uncertainty, poverty, violence, and trauma. 🚨 Urge your Representative to preserve lawful status for Haitian neighbors: bit.ly/4cjwnUJ 🔗
Action Alert:
Urge your Representative to Keep TPS for Haiti
Take action at globalrefuge.org/action
[Global Refuge logo]
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
It’s beautiful to see WHY so many of you are signing Global Refuge’s Solidarity Pledge. Please sign today, if you haven’t already, to commit to welcoming refugees and other immigrants. 🔗 www.globalrefuge.org/solidarity/
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
A broken promise and a betrayal of America’s longest wartime allies. The State Dep’t says it's closing Camp As-Sayliyah today, where ~1,100 Afghan allies have been stranded, with some offered money to return to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. My take in @scrippsnews.bsky.social
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
"We urge Secretary Mullin to prioritize immediate reforms to DHS policies and practice to ensure humane immigration system that strengthens our economy, safeguards our security, and represents a true reflection of the American dream.” - @krishvignarajah.bsky.social Full statement: bit.ly/4c1h5ER
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Global Refuge Urges New DHS Secretary to “Course-Correct” Immigration Policy
“After a year of disruptive immigration policy, Secretary Mullin’s confirmation should serve as an opportunity for the administration to course-correct."
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Global Refuge @globalrefuge.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Aggressive immigration raids. Parents taken from their children. People treated as less than human. Right now, we are witnessing an unprecedented targeting of immigrants and refugees in this country. Enough is enough. Here are 5️⃣ ways to stand with refugees and other immigrants... 🧵
5 ways to stand with refugees and other immigrants
[Global Refuge logo]
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Here at @globalrefuge.bsky.social, we support Maryland House Bill 1458, as it isn't just the right thing to do morally—it is the smart thing to do economically.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
A little late to the #oscars party, but I absolutely adored this line from Jessie Buckley about “the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.” ❤️
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Today marks the anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980 — a bipartisan promise that the U.S. would remain a refuge for people fleeing persecution. The Act codified a simple but powerful idea: that we can be a nation of laws and a nation of welcome. 46 years later, that balance feels fragile.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Mohammed Nazeer Paktiawal worked w/ US forces, was evacuated to safety and had a pending asylum claim.   Less than 24 hours after being taken into ICE custody, he was dead.   His family deserves to know how this could've happened. We all do.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Little Krish had no idea she was already living the @globalrefuge.bsky.social story. I grew up in the US—brought here by parents who believed this country would give our family a chance at a different life. Decades later, I get to spend every day fighting to ensure the door stays open for others.
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
The war with Iran is barely a week old, but more than 330,000 people have already been displaced as a result of intensifying hostilities, according to the UN. Keep in mind that the affected regions already host 24.6 million forcibly displaced people. bit.ly/4luzIV6
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Krish O'Mara Vignarajah @krishvignarajah.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
My thoughts in @nytimes.com on POTUS’ offer of protection amid the wider dismantling of legal pathways: “Consistency is key. Protect the Iranian players, absolutely — but also restore functioning humanitarian systems for everyone else facing persecution.” www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/u...
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