Statement by the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS) on the Crisis in the USA
The International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS), representing 11,000 community-based organizations worldwide, stands in unwavering solidarity with U.S. communities facing a growing crisis. Across the country, diverse neighborhoods are enduring unprecedented actions by federal agencies, including surveillance, inhumane detention, deportation, family separation, and violence against peaceful protesters by armed, masked agents.
Our U.S. colleagues report that communities across the nation are being targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These actions include community patrols, detention in inhumane conditions, and violent crackdowns on peaceful protests. At the same time, millions of Americans are mobilizing through strikes, marches, mutual aid, legal assistance, voter registration drives, economic boycotts, and non-violent civil disobedience to highlight these injustices and document the actions of federal agencies.
For over 140 years, America’s settlement houses have been pillars of safety, healing, and community development in cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, New York City, Boston, St. Louis, Houston, San Antonio, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Columbus, Cleveland, and many more. These multi-service, community-based organisations have shaped the foundations of American social work, public health, and the social welfare safety net. Today, they remain vital lifelines, providing support, organising, and strengthening community voices, and fostering resilience in the face of chaos.
IFS pledges its full support to these communities and calls on local, state, and federal leaders to take immediate action to restore human rights, uphold the rule of law, and ensure safety in streets, schools, and neighborhoods. We will continue to stand by these communities as they organize, protect, and rebuild, working to restore social welfare systems and community cohesion.
We believe that through coordinated grassroots action and global solidarity, these communities will not only endure but also emerge stronger, creating a more just and inclusive society.
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