Since you last heard from us around World Refugee Day, so much has happened!  

UNHCR released their Global Trends Report which revealed a record-breaking 120 million people had been forcibly displaced as of May 2024. Also included, 43.4 million individuals were refugees by the end of 2023, and nearly 3 in 4 displaced people face climate hazards. 

On June 18, President Biden announced a new family unity process that would allow certain spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for “parole-in-place" from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program launched August 19 but has since been challenged in the courts. DHS also announced the extension and redesignation of Haiti, Yemen, and Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). DHS has also resumed the processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans after the program was briefly suspended.

The federal government has decreased processing times for citizenship requests from an average of 11.5 months in 2021 to 4.9 months in the current fiscal year. In addition, Church World Service and Refugee Housing Solutions have partnered with ReHome to further develop a web-based housing search software customized for refugees who arrive through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. 

This summer also featured the Paris Olympics and the return of the Refugee Olympic Team. Composed of 37 athletes from 11 countries, team members competed in 12 sports, and the team won its first-ever medal. Then, during the Paralympics, an athlete originally from Afghanistan won the first medal for the Refugee Paralympic Team. 

Meanwhile stateside, the U.S. resettled 9,520 refugees in August, up from 6,457 refugees in July and the second highest monthly arrival number this fiscal year. More than 84,000 refugees have been resettled across the country and as many as 100,000 could be resettled by the end of the fiscal year, which would be the highest total since the mid-1990s. In Missouri, we have welcomed about 2,300 refugees since October 1, 2023. 

Looking ahead, the administration plans to set the same cap on refugee resettlement, 125,000, for the next fiscal year.  

More regional news: 

• The Midwest cities in search of new migrants, Midwest 
• Three years after evacuation, 300 Afghan refugees call Columbia home, Columbia 
• Festival of Nations comes as St. Louis sees record immigration, St. Louis 
• St. Louis prepares for surge in immigrant arrivals, calls for community action, St. Louis
• Their son escaped Kabul without them. Now an Afghan family is safe in Kansas City — without him, Kansas City
• I See You, I Want to Know You, Kansas City

To read: These stories about four young refugees who are achieving their dreams one step at a time, and learn more here and here about the Refugee Olympic Team who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

To watch: The Echoes of Home series from USCRI, which aims to share the stories of USCRI staff who have experienced forced displacement, and this video about refugee travel documents from UNHCR.

To explore: Five takeaways from the 2023 UNHCR Global Trends Report, including 120 million people being forcibly displaced worldwide as of May 2024. Plus this blog post from Switchboard with practical tips and resources for welcoming LGBTQ+ newcomers.

To listen: This podcast series called “Women of Refuge” features the voices of refugee women giving back to their communities across the U.S.

To celebrate: In addition to Welcoming Week festivities, Hispanic Heritage Month starts September 15 and Citizenship Day is September 17. 

MO-ORA is hiring! We’re looking for a Resource Coordinator to join our Kansas City office. 



USCRI is also hiring a Refugee Health Promotion Program Officer to join their team in St. Louis. 

CCCNMO has opportunities for groups to volunteer through their Community Sponsorship Program to welcome refugee newcomers and assist them as they resettle in Mid-Missouri.

Della Lamb is looking for volunteers to help with their new Women’s Tea Time to support refugee mothers and their children as they adjust to life in their new communities. They are also hiring a Matching Grant Program Manager, Workforce Development Educator and more.

JVS is hiring a Housing Coordinator and Refugee Employment Manager among other positions. They are also looking for volunteers to help with home set-ups as well as in-kind donations.

IISMO is hosting CultureFest in Springfield in partnership with other local partners to celebrate the diversity and heritage of Southwest Missouri. September 28 starting at 10:00 a.m.

IISTL is looking for volunteers to assist with mock interviews for job interview workshops and grocery shopping to obtain essential items ahead of newcomers’ arrivals. They are also hosting their Ubuntu Gala on November 14 – save the date!

RAISE is need of in-kind donations of household items, including twin-size bedding, kitchen tables and chairs, nightstands, and more. They are also looking for volunteers to help with housing setups, childcare, transportation and office support.

Their Story is Our Story is accepting applications for their Fall 2024 internship! Through this program, interns will have the chance to gain valuable skills, forge meaningful connections, and actively engage in refugee advocacy.

Reimagining Schools: Centering Newcomers, Building Belonging, and Activating Community: Re-Imagining Migration will lead this online discussion about the importance of celebrating students' diverse identities, empowering youth civic agency, and creating environments that fully welcome newcomers. September 18 and October 9 at 1:00 p.m. CT

Community Sponsorship: From Individual and Small Group Welcoming to a Whole-of-Community Approach: For those considering participating in community sponsorship, attend this webinar to learn more about a new self-paced training resource and how to build upon existing welcoming initiatives. September 26 at 1:00 p.m. CT

Mobilizing University Resources for Welcome: How to Make Your Campus a Resettlement Campus: Join Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) for this webinar to explore the ins-and-outs of becoming a higher education institution that provides refugees with temporary housing and community integration support. Tuesday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. CT

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more updates!

A Missouri that values and champions refugees

Catch up on what you may have missed in our previous newsletters here :)