Announcement
Every year, the IRC assists hundreds of new arrivals from countries all around the world to resettle in the United States. This spring, the IRC in Elizabeth welcomed Inna and Nicolae, refugees from the Ukraine. Inna and Nicolae arrived in the U.S. through the Lautenberg program, an immigration program first enacted in 1990 following sponsorship by U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. The Lautenberg Amendment was originally created to facilitate the resettlement of Jews from the former Soviet Union, but has been expanded to include persecuted religious minorities in former Soviet Union controlled countries.
Mypka's Ukrainian pet passport.
Photo: Dana Halwani/IRC.
Inna and Nicolae are like many families resettled by the IRC in Elizabeth, with one exception. Inna and Nicolae brought the IRC staff the littlest client yet, their cat of ten years, Mypka. Resettling a pet is a rarity, and was a new experience for much of the Elizabeth staff, but Mypka has been part of Inna and Nicolae’s family for a decade, and they could not imagine leaving her behind. Though a first for the IRC, the Elizabeth staff is committed to family resettlement and happily helped Inna and Nicolae’s family of three.
Mypka’s journey as a refugee was similar to her human parents. She has her own passport from the Ukraine, and needed to present necessary documentation and receive certain vaccines to enter the U.S. upon arrival.
IRC clients Inna, Nicolae and Mypka.
Photo: Dana Halwani/IRC.
Mypka is now adjusting to her life in New Jersey. Inna and Nicolae say the resettlement experience has been exciting, and that Mypka has enjoyed exploring her new surroundings, even though her adventurous nature has already found her stuck in a tree at least once! Nicolae and Inna have reconnected with family here in New Jersey. Now, Mypka has made friends with her new dog family members, too!
The IRC in Elizabeth happily supports Mypka and her family, and other families like theirs. If you would like to learn more about refugees in the U.S., and support the IRC’s work in New Jersey, please click here.