The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)  estimates there are more than 100 million people  forcibly displaced across the globe. While most displaced people are internally displaced, 27.1 million are refugees—individuals who have been forced to flee their countries and seek refuge elsewhere. This is similar to the entire population of Texas being displaced.  

72 percent of all refugees are from five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and South Sudan. 69 percent of refugees are hosted by their neighboring countries. Countries hosting the largest number of refugees are Türkiye, Colombia, Germany, Pakistan, and Uganda.  

Twenty two percent of refugees, roughly 6.6 million, live in refugee camps. On average, refugees who remain in camps are 36 percent more likely to live below the national extreme poverty line, although finding safe housing and employment outside the camp is very challenging. 

Millions of refugees around the globe live in fear and face persecution on the count of race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, and political and social group affiliations. International displacement is driven by a confluence of factors, including inter- and intra- state conflict, political instability, and, increasingly, climate disasters. 

Often, there is overlap between some of these factors. However, to qualify for refugee status according to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, a refugee is an individual who “is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”  

 This refugee status definition is foundational to the definitions of refugees codified into national laws across the globe, including the U.S. Parties to the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol are also subject to the principle of non-refoulement, meaning they cannot return persons to their home countries if their lives are threatened or persecuted for the reasons mentioned in the refugee status definition.  

Importantly, while many refugees are fleeing countries with high climate risk, their status as a refugee would be determined by other factors impacting their displacement since there are no international protections for people displaced by climate disasters. However, there are domestic opportunities for protection pathways available to climate disaster displaced people in the United States, read LIRS’ July 2021 Climate Report to learn more. 

The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) at the U.S. Department of State manages the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in coordination with other bureaus at the Department of State and with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

When individuals flee their countries due to fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a social group, they can qualify as refugees according to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as mentioned in the previous section.  

Refugees are brought to the U.S. through different priority categories, which are explained below: 

Regardless of the designation, refugees have a series of screenings, USCIS interviews, security vetting, and medical checks prior to their arrival in the U.S.  

After the screening and vetting process has concluded, refugees are then connected with resettlement agencies across the United States that welcome the refugees into communities, help them secure housing, find employment, support language learning services, and support their overall integration into their new communities.  

Rooted in faith, LIRS believes that we are called to welcome those fleeing persecution and seeking refuge in the United States. Resettlement is a life-saving program for the most vulnerable and a practice in devotion for many in receiving communities. Across the U.S., faith communities remain ready and eager to welcome refugees.  

At LIRS, we welcome refugees because we believe that every person has God-given dignity. We take seriously what the Bible says about welcoming strangers (Matthew 25: 31-40) and we see God-given dignity in every person that we serve. We look to the social teachings of the Lutheran Church and the experience of immigrants in the U.S. to inform our welcome to newcomers.  

As a resettlement agency, LIRS receives government funding to help welcome newcomers to the United States after the individuals have been identified and screened to enter the United States. LIRS also relies upon the generous donations of an incredible network of LIRS advocates and donors.  

LIRS works to welcome refugees into communities that best suit the needs of the refugees. LIRS and network partners operate 50 resettlement and placement sites and one remote placement site across the United States – making it the 2nd largest resettlement agency in the United States. LIRS network receives government funding that supports our work of welcome through robust case management services for newcomers as they work to integrate into their new communities. 

LIRS network partners provide critical resources and support for refugees from cultural orientations to enrolling adults in English classes and children in school. Given government funding constraints, the co-sponsorship model of resettlement is also an incredible way that community members and volunteers have stepped up to support the welcome and integration of refugees into communities. The LIRS network is also incredibly grateful for the support of private donors and community volunteers who give generously and serve tirelessly and ensure that refugees are welcomed into communities across the country despite funding constraints.