Thousands of Afghans helped the United States as translators, interpreters, drivers, cultural advisors, and more during the war in Afghanistan in the 2000s. Many of these Afghans fled the country when the Taliban took control in August 2021 and came to the U.S. as refugees. As of April 2022, more than 900 Afghan refugees have made their home in Iowa.
The bulk of this resettlement work is done by resettlement agencies, whose work is supported by the Bureau of Refugee Services.
Read more about the overall Afghan resettlement effort at the following links:
More than five million Ukrainians have fled into neighboring eastern European countries resulting in one of the largest and fastest refugee emergencies in decades. The U.S. recently announced a refugee sponsorship program to take in refugees who fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Private U.S. citizens who are interested in learning more about sponsorship can find more information at www.welcome.us or check out Uniting for Ukraine.
If you need assistance to cope with unfolding events and uncertainties in Ukraine, the Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the nation’s only hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to anyone in the U.S. and its territories.
Via third-party interpretation services, the DDH (1-800-985-5990) can connect callers to crisis counselors in over 100 languages, including in Ukrainian. When calling the hotline, simply indicate what language you prefer, and the counselor will proceed to connect with an interpreter while you both stay on the line.
Callers are connected with trained and caring counselors from a network of crisis centers across the country. Helpline staff provide supportive counseling, including information on common stress reactions and healthy coping, as well as referrals to local disaster-related resources for follow-up care and support.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is supporting the arrival of Ukrainian newcomers, working closely with federal, state, and local partners, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Ukrainian newcomers may be admitted to the United States (U.S.) on several different categories, including humanitarian parole through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, non-immigrant short-term visas (tourist or business), immigrant visas, or refugee status. This notification provides an overview of the U4U program, additional clinical considerations, and resources for clinicians and others working with Ukrainian newcomers. For information on polio, measles, and childhood vaccination coverage refer to the CDC Update Alert Notification: Update Alert: Interim Clinical Considerations for Providers Caring for Newcomers from Ukraine (sent May 10, 2022).
Venezuelan Resources
New USCIS Process for Venezuelans
Beginning October 18, 2022, U.S-based supporters may initiate the online application process on behalf of eligible Venezuelan nationals and their non-Venezuelan immediate family members, who are outside of the United States and lack U.S. entry documents, to be considered on a case-by-case basis for advanced authorization to travel to the United States for a temporary period of parole for up to two years. To participate in this process, Venezuelan nationals must:
Have a supporter in the United States who will provide financial and other support;
Undergo and clear robust security vetting;
Meet other eligibility criteria; and
Warrant a favorable exercise of discretion
Please visit the DHS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) web site for more information on this new process for Venezuelans.
The State Department's Population, Refugees and Migration Bureau formulates U.S. policy and administers U.S. refugee assistance and refugee admissions programs.
The Refugee Processing Center (RPC) is operated by the U.S Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). RPC processes and tracks the movement of refugees from various countries around the world to the U.S. for resettlement under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
The Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
Domestic refugee resettlement program to provide assistance and services to refugees resettling in the U.S.; this site indexes ORR regulations, information on welfare reform, and Medicaid information.
Office of Public Health and Science, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Office of Minority Health (OMH) is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and deals with public health issues affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, Blacks/African Americans, and Hispanic/Latinos.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States of America. It establishes immigration services, policies and priorities to preserve America's legacy as a nation of immigrants while ensuring that no one is admitted who is a threat to public safety.
This refugee organization is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. Their primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.
The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to:
Assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration;
Advance understanding of migration issues;
Encourage social and economic development through migration;
Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), founded in 1962, is a global network of human rights, humanitarian, and development Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), which focuses its information exchange and advocacy efforts primarily on humanitarian affairs and refugee issues.
Amnesty International is a worldwide campaign that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards.
Voluntary Agencies
The Bureau of Refugee Services is one of ten Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGS) who work directly with the Department of State in the resettlement of refugees. The other VOLAGS are listed below.
Church World Service (CWS)
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM)
Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC)
Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS)
Immigration and Refugee Service of America (IRSA)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
World Relief Refugee Services (WRRS)
Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa (RACI)
Refugee Immigrant Guide (RIG) Program
Volunteer Opportunities
Most refugee resettlement in Iowa is provided by Resettlement Agencies (RAs). These RAs work closely with volunteers to help meet the needs of refugees in Iowa. Please view the links below to find information on how you can volunteer with the Iowa RAs to support newly arrived refugees:
