Resettling Refugees

Refugees are people who cannot return home.

         People whose own government cannot or will not protect them.

               People who are persecuted for their religious or political beliefs.

                     People who flee war or genocide.

                           People who are brutalized by a military regime.


Refugees are people…and every person has a story. Stories of family and friends. Stories of love and loss. Stories of hopes and dreams.

There are more than 10 million refugees in the world today. The United States welcomes a tiny fraction—less than one percent—with annual admission levels set at 80,000 refugees in recent years.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is one of 10 national organizations that resettles refugees on behalf of the U.S. government. In partnership with local organizations and congregations we strive to create welcoming communities to receive refugees.

We are proud to be a part of the story for the refugees we serve as they begin their lives anew in a new land.

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LIRS carries out our work in refugee resettlement through a national network of partners, housed mainly in Lutheran social ministry organizations. Learn more about these partners.

Our refugee resettlement service is funded in large part by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration and the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional support is provided by individuals, congregations and our sponsoring Lutheran denominations. Support our continued work of welcome.