African Communities Together

June is Immigrant Heritage Month! This is a time to recognize and celebrate the immigrants who shape the culture, identity, and everyday life of the United States.

For African immigrants, that cultural impact runs deep. Across languages, traditions, music, food, and storytelling, African communities bring a richness and diversity that continues to shape and expand what culture looks like in the U.S. Did you know cornrows originated in Africa and were once used as more than just a hairstyle? They could signal everything from community belonging to social status, with patterns sometimes even serving as a form of communication and cultural memory passed through generations.

We celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month this month and every month.

Families and advocates are sounding the alarm about the shocking conditions inside Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, where detained immigrants have launched a hunger strike over medical neglect, unsafe conditions, delayed cases, and mistreatment.

Allies are gathering in front of Delaney Hall to put an end to these concentration camps. Assist in freeing our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends: speak out, contact your elected officials, and demand humane treatment for everyone inside ICE detention.

The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Here's why that matters beyond the headlines:

→ Affected communities already face fragile health systems, limited infrastructure, and severe shortages of medical personnel and supplies.
→ These conditions significantly increase the risk of disease spread and make adequate outbreak containment extremely difficult.
→ Despite this, Congolese nationals in the U.S. are being required to return home under current administration policy.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was created by Congress to protect individuals from being returned to countries experiencing exactly these kinds of unsafe conditions, including public health crises. It was used during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The legal framework and the moral case both point in the same direction.

Granting TPS to Congolese nationals would provide temporary safety until conditions on the ground improve, consistent with both the letter and spirit of the program.

This is a moment for policy to meet humanitarian reality.

Read our full statement here: https://africans.us/statement-ebola-crisis-and-need-temporary-protected-status-tps

We’re sharing the story of Malado, an ACT member whose life has been shaped by climate displacement.

Growing up in Mali, Malado witnessed severe droughts across the Sahel, where water became scarce, and livelihoods were lost, making it no longer possible to stay. Like many others, she was forced to relocate due to worsening environmental conditions. Today, she is turning her experience into action, working toward more sustainable solutions and supporting others facing similar challenges.

Her story reflects a larger reality: climate change is both a migration and justice issue, displacing millions of people each year. As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, we also hold the emotional toll of displacement and the importance of care, community, and healing for those navigating it. Thank you, National Partnership for New Americans and United for Status for Protection (CUSP) for capturing Malado’s story.