Since you last heard from us, we’ve started a whole new fiscal year!

For FY 2024, the Biden administration again set the refugee cap at 125,000 with allocations by region: 30,000-50,000 from Africa, 10,000-20,000 from East Asia, 2,000-3,000 from Europe and Central Asia, 35,000-50,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 30,000-45,000 from the Near East and South Asia. The U.S. saw a robust start to FY 2024, resettling 7,354 refugees in October and 7,468 in November. If this trend continues, it could mark the highest annual number of refugee arrivals in 29 years.

In September, the Biden administration extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela, benefiting around 242,700 individuals, with potential eligibility for an additional 472,000. TPS for Afghanistan was similarly extended, allowing approximately 3,100 Afghans to maintain protections and opening eligibility for 14,600 more.

However, when Congress passed a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown, it did not include supplemental funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement. This impacted Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees, leaving them largely ineligible for federal refugee support programs if they arrive after September 30, 2024. We’re also following the ongoing conversation between the White House and Congress as they try to negotiate a new border authority, asylum processes, and aid to Ukraine.  

Afghans are continuing to seek asylum in the U.S., and the number of Afghans seeking asylum has risen to 19,000 over the past two years. To connect Afghans newcomers to the necessary services and legal assistance, Afghan Support Centers have been popping up across the U.S. These centers offer comprehensive services for resettlement and integration, and one is scheduled in St. Louis from February 28 to March 2, 2024.

New Resettlement Agency

ICNA Relief began offering refugee resettlement services in St. Louis in October, and we celebrated their grand opening earlier this month. An affiliate of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), ICNA has become the seventh agency in Missouri to provide direct refugee resettlement and the second to do so in St. Louis. ICNA is also the second LIRS affiliate in the state and expects to resettle 115 refugees in FY 2024, which runs through September 30, 2024.

EMPOWER Program Launch

MO-ORA in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced the availability of State of Missouri funds for the Missouri Refugee Empowerment Program in October. Since the EMPOWER program’s launch, organizations have submitted proposals, and seven agencies have been awarded funding. Contracts are set to begin January 1!

Almost every local resettlement agency in the state will have a driving simulator after the program begins with new offerings to assist refugees in obtaining driving licenses. There are also many ideas for innovative employment assistance strategies, implementing remote English Language Learning opportunities, and providing much needed services to the Saint Joseph community.  

More local news spotlights: 

• Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Appoints Gilberto Pinela to Lead City’s First Office of New Americans
• Mayor Lucas Appoints Mayor’s Commission for New Americans
• Ukrainians find a warm welcome in Sedalia after fleeing their war-torn country
• St. Louis looks to resettle Latino immigrants now in Chicago
• Afghan refugees in Kansas City create a new routine where soccer, culture and English practice unite

• To watch: What It Means To Welcome: Refugee Perspectives, hosted by Refugee Storytellers Collective, in which newcomers reflect on finding belonging in their new communities and advice for everyday Americans on welcoming newcomers.

• To read: This article about Palestinian refugees. Plus, five stories from across the U.S. that shine a light on the power of refugee voices and on the commitment of people building more welcoming communities. 

• To test yourself: Try out this quiz from USA for UNHCR about how the climate crisis affects refugees, displaced people, and their hosts that are living on the frontlines of a changing world.

• To explore: UNHCR’s landing spot for almost all of their data, including their Mid-Year Trend Report for 2023. And American Immigration Council’s 2023 Map the Impact report, an interactive data-map showcasing the contributions of immigrants in the country, all 50 states, and industry sectors across the economy.

• JVS is looking for donations! Help them welcome newcomers by donating winter clothing, coats, warm socks, winter boots, household items, and furniture. Find out where and how to donate items here.

• RAISE is looking for gently used, clean, coats for adults and children along with gently used furniture donations, such as: couches, tables, chairs, dresses, coffee tables, nightstands, and lamps. Email amanda@raisecommunity.org with pictures and arrange a time to drop off.

• IISTL is hiring! They’re looking for a Multicultural Center Coordinator and an Assistant Housing Coordinator among other openings.

• IISTL is also looking for items to help refugees begin to feel settled, such as new household items and gift cards for grocery stores. Find their Amazon, Walmart and Target wish lists here. You can drop items off at IISTL's garage on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. or December 16 from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

• Della Lamb is hiring! Check out their postings for a Development Director and Caseworkers.

• Della Lamb is also looking for volunteers to form house-to-home teams or a co-sponsorship group. They have more episodic opportunities such as administrative assistance, driving clients to appointments, teaching driving lessons and more. Check out their opportunities to volunteer.

• Their Story is Our Story is looking for teachers, photographers, videographers, website designers, writers, advocates and anyone with a desire to give their time and talents to support refugees. Learn how you can volunteer with TSOS here.

Thanks for reading! We hope you have a safe and warm holiday season.

We'll have more updates for you in the new year!