Quarterly Update from MO-ORA

Greetings! Per usual, it’s been a busy few months in the world of immigration and refugee resettlement.

Refugee resettlement data released by the State Department on December 5 revealed that 2,193 refugees were resettled in November, the second month of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. With the first two months of the fiscal year in the books, the Biden Administration is on track to resettle 26,082 refugees total in FY 2023.

While the administration continues to rebuild the refugee resettlement program, it is also working to expand capacity throughout the system. In FY 2022, 71 new domestic resettlement offices opened, and the administration also increased personnel at overseas refugee centers by about 600 and conducted 44,000 refugee interviews, up from 9,100 in FY 2021. And earlier this week, the White House announced they will be reinstating the Task Force on New Americans aimed at helping immigrants and refugees integrate into the U.S.

This increased capacity and revived task force can only help as new programs continue to be created and we welcome more newcomers. In October we saw the launch of the Venezuela Parole Program, which allows U.S.-based individuals or organizations to sponsor a Venezuelan who wishes to migrate to the U.S. These Venezuelan nationals are then admitted under humanitarian parole, a status that will last for two years and include work authorization.

We’ve already begun to see Venezuelans arriving in Missouri along with Columbians and a steadily growing population of Cubans, especially in Kansas City. Similar to Venezuela, Cuba seems to be undergoing a historic exodus as an estimated 250,000 Cubans have migrated to the U.S. this year alone.

We also continue to resettle and support Afghans, and the State Department even launched an Afghan Family Reunification Guide to help Afghans in the U.S. reunite with family members who remain in Afghanistan.

Stay tuned in to the latest news by following our News page and Blog in between newsletters.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Local Resettlement Agency Updates

The International Institute hosted a First Thanksgiving Community event the weekend before Thanksgiving and distributed more than 400 meals to volunteers, staff, clients, and neighbors.

After conducting education orientation, Jewish Vocational Service formed a group for Afghan girls that meets weekly to provide educational support and bolster technical skills and self-confidence.

Learn more

Della Lamb also hosted their Illuminate the City event! Celebrating Della Lamb's 125 years of serving Kansas City, the event consisted of two parts.

On Friday, December 2, guests attended Illumination Dinners in a private dining setting to learn more about Della Lamb's work. Then on Saturday, December 3, guests attended a gala complete with delicious food, mission moments, and a live auction!

Visit our blog

A LOOK BACK: Afghan Resettlement by the Numbers

This time last year, resettlement agencies across the country were resettling record numbers of arrivals due to the fall of Afghanistan and the launch of Operation Allies Welcome.

As we prepare to review lessons learned with our resettlement partners, we wanted to reflect on some aspects of the past year. Read more to see how we responded at the state and national levels to the more than 88,000 Afghan evacuees airlifted out of Afghanistan and brought to the United States.

RESOURCES: Read, Watch, Explore

To watch: “The Swimmers” on Netflix, which dramatizes the story of two sisters from Syria and their ordeal fleeing to Europe, and the new Kansas City PBS documentary series “We Are Latinos.”

For kids: These children’s books exploring the experiences of refugee children.

To read: This piece from the Deseret News that documents a Ukrainian family’s journey to safety, and this piece from the Atlantic about the ongoing Afghan refugee crisis.

To listen: The first episode of the Global Citizenship Podcast, created by WashU students, which discusses some of the challenges of working toward immigration justice, and this episode of the Daily about the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

For the holidays: The Anti-Trafficking Holiday Shopping Guide, which includes links to various products ranging from candles to jewelry to cards to coffee.

OPPORTUNITIES: Get Involved

The Sponsor Fund supports sponsors welcoming through Uniting for Ukraine and the Process for Venezuelans and helps defray the cost of sponsorship.

IISTL: The Youth Mentoring Program is looking for mentors! If you’re interested in signing up, the next session goes from January 12 through March 23, and their volunteer page has all the necessary info and forms. IISTL is also hiring a Director of Education and Program Grants and Budget Coordinator.

Della Lamb is in need of a vehicle to pick up new arrivals and take clients to medical appointments, English classes, and more. You can donate funds toward this purchase, or contact Claire Petersen to discuss donating a used vehicle.

JVS is looking to fill a few positions, including a Refugee Social Services Team Lead, Adult Therapist, and Resettlement Case Manager. See more here.

CCCNMO Refugee Services is welcoming newcomers to Columbia with Welcome Kits! You can donate items for bedding kits, cooking kits, and more. Learn more here, and contact Lacy Stroessner with any questions!

IISMO is moving! They invite all to come and visit their new location at their open house on December 22.

We hope you and your loved ones have a safe and healthy holiday season,

and we’ll see you in the new year.

Can you believe we've been distributing this newsletter for two whole years?!

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