Before the Refugee Act of 1980, refugee resettlement in the U.S. was largely conducted privately or through community groups. The act standardized the process and today most refugees in the U.S. are primarily welcomed through resettlement agencies, such as the International Rescue Committee.

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.

13-year old Zain from Karachi, Pakistan is a student in IRC’s Refugee Youth Summer Academy preparing for school in New York this fall.

After her family fled war in Liberia and was resettled in Oakland, California by the IRC, Torbertha Torbor became a nurse practitioner in the hopes of giving back to her community. She's now on the frontlines fighting COVID-19.

Threatened by gangs in El Salvador, Valentina escaped danger by resettling to the United States. She tells her powerful story so others, like her, might have a chance at safety and freedom.

Before the Refugee Act of 1980 standardized refugee resettlement through the use of resettlement agencies, such as the International Rescue Committee, resettlement was largely conducted privately or through community groups. With the increasing numbers and enthusiasm of local community groups offering to partner to resettle refugees, IRC is committed to integrating community sponsorship programming at the local and national levels!

The IRC in Elizabeth had a very unusual resettlement client this year.

Meet Sharefa Daw, Resettlement Caseworker at the IRC in Dallas.

Last year, the Governor of Texas declared that the state would no longer accept Syrian refugees, citing security concerns after the horrific attacks in Paris. The state demanded that the International Rescue Committee halt its resettlement programs or face a lawsuit. A federal judge on June 16, 2016 dismissed the lawsuit that would have banned refugee resettlement in Texas. Watch this Syrian family's story on becoming new Americans in Dallas.