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What’s Happening

Since the 1970s, we have been resettling refugees in coordination with the federal government and supporting them in their journey to live the American dream. We do this because of our Gospel call to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25) and our unwavering belief in the dignity and value of all human persons. Every year, refugee admissions are set by a Presidential Determination. The first step in this process is a report to Congress issued by the State Department. This year’s recently released report is recommending 15,000 refugees be admitted to the U.S. in 2021 — a historic low. For reference, the historical average is 95,000, which is still a very small portion of the world’s refugee population.

 

Where We Stand

We are sad and disappointed to see another reduction in the number of refugees admitted to our country. Since the Vietnam War, we have served as a refugee resettlement agency, helping children, individuals, and families fleeing violence and persecution as they navigate their new home in the U.S. We are proud to walk alongside our refugee friends and families through our various programs, and we stand in solidarity with refugees and all displaced persons––those we serve and those out of our reach. We also stand in solidarity with the USCCB and echo their statement on this issue here.

 

What are Refugees?

Refugees are people who have fled their home country and cannot return because of persecution, or a well-founded fear of persecution, on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Refugees chosen for resettlement have obtained refugee status, which is recognized by the Department of Homeland Security and requires an extensive vetting process. Less than one percent of refugees are ever resettled to a third country.

 

Learn More

Read more about the refugee population here.
Follow us on social media to keep up with our refugee-centered services and stories of the refugees we serve.