Salam Bunyan strongly believes refugees bring unique perspectives and skills to their new countries—and hopes Americans see them as an asset rather than a burden. Read his story.

Six years after Iraqi refugee Maha al-Obaidi resettled in the United States, her family remains divided. While three of her sons are thriving alongside her in New York, two others, her husband and a grandson are still in the Middle East.

The International Rescue Committee began relief operations in Jordan in 2007 in response to an influx of Iraqi refugees.

"I was born twice. Once when I came to this to life. and when I became [a U.S.] citizen, I was born again." Ahmed, an Iraqi refugee who was born in war, now has a country to call home: the United States. Today he lives in Charlottesville, VA.

Meet Taghreed and her 9-year-old son Yousif, who share a sweet passion for baking. After fleeing from extremists in Iraq, the family was resettled by the International Rescue Committee in Seattle where Taghreed works as a professional pastry cook.