 Idahoans will come together this month to honor World Refugee Day in Boise, Twin Falls, and Pocatello, drawing on community joy and strength as the national resettlement program remains paused. Idaho has had a strong and widely supported tradition of welcoming refugees since 1975.
The World Refugee Day event in Boise on June 19, organized by the Idaho Office for Refugees, is themed Community as a Superpower. In the past few months our community has seen just how true that is.
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 Eliza Shabire - pictured above at World Refugee Day Boise in 2023 - resettled in Boise five years ago to reunite with her dad after years apart. She was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but her family was displaced to Rwanda when she was 6. Eliza is now raising a young daughter with her husband and going to school to become a clinical social worker. Eliza shares: Resettling here in Idaho gave my family and me our lives back. It gave us peace, safety, and the opportunity to dream big and achieve our dreams. Before we came here, we couldn’t dream big because we didn't know if we were going to wake up alive the next morning due to war, disasters, hunger, and all other bad things that were against us. When I came here in 2020, I felt like I was just entering a small paradise, and then the way people welcomed me and helped me to thrive, I realized that it was not just a small paradise, it was actually a big one. From that day forward, I promised myself to work hard so that I could leave Idaho better than I found it. Now I am fulfilling my promise by going to school to become a clinical social worker. I am proud to say that this May, I earned my bachelor’s in social work, and I am starting my master's in social work this June. I believe that a healthier community creates a stronger community and a strong country, which is why I dedicated my life to helping people with mental health challenges as well as connecting them with available resources. Currently, I am working at a behavior hospital as an activity therapist and at an early learning center as a preschool teacher. It makes me happy and proud to help people to live better lives as well as raise future generations of this country. Together, we can achieve more. Thank you to the United States for resettling refugees and giving them a place to call home. Refugees are strong, hardworking, intelligent, resilient, innovative, and so much more. All they need is safety, a home, and opportunity, and they will give back and contribute to the best of our country, if we allow them to. World Refugee Day Events in Idaho
Please find translated materials here to spread the word about the Boise event!  The Refugee Speakers Bureau of the Idaho Office for Refugees is pleased to invite you to our next storytelling workshop! This is a great opportunity for people to connect across cultural backgrounds and gain skills for public speaking and sharing our stories in a purposeful and meaningful way. The workshop is open to adult participants whether you have a refugee or immigrant background or were born in the U.S.  Today, March 17th, marks the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980. This landmark legislation received strong bipartisan support from Congress. The act provides a standardized framework for welcoming refugees and asylees and helping them integrate and succeed in their new communities.
Welcoming refugees is not only the right thing to do to honor human dignity, but it’s the smart thing to do - strengthening our communities and workforces and building trust and security around the world. We honor and celebrate Idahoans who have experienced displacement and are now a vital part of the fabric of our community. Today the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program remains on pause due to an executive order, impacting people who have waited years to resettle and prolonging family separations in Idaho. We stand together in sharing our support for the refugee program, a part of our immigration system that has worked well for the past 45 years through public-private partnership. In Idaho we’re grateful to be part of this legacy alongside you and many other community members, resettlement partners, businesses, and faith groups. We echo what President Jimmy Carter, who signed the Refugee Act, said four years ago, “On this 41st anniversary of the Refugee Act, we as Americans can reflect on our decision as a nation to welcome the stranger and renew our commitment to remaining a beacon of hope for freedom-loving people everywhere.” Resources for Supporting Resettlement Neighbors United: What You Can Do
Idahoans from refugee backgrounds and community supporters came together at the State Capitol on Feb. 24 to show appreciation for Idaho’s 50-year history of welcoming refugees. Chefs originally from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Kenya provided favorite foods from their home countries to lawmakers and other guests at the lunch. Caterers included Chubangu Mnongerwa, owner of Amina’s African Sambusas; husband and wife Oleksii and Liudmyla Dmytriienko from Ukraine; and Wahid Amani, an army veteran from Afghanistan. The annual Idaho Appreciation Lunch: From Refugees to Lawmakers was hosted by the Idaho Office for Refugees and Idaho Dairymen’s Association and endorsed by over 200 organizations and businesses from across the state. “Our operation would not be what it is today without (the refugee community) as part of our workforce teams. Those of us not familiar with their cultures and customs have learned a great deal, which makes our leaders stronger, better educated and more empathetic towards all individuals.”  New policies were passed this week impacting refugee and immigrant community members, including the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for at least 90 days. The president’s executive order halts the arrival of refugees who have been vetted and approved for resettlement and pauses decisions on refugee applications. Welcome Corps arrivals are also on hold. There is the possibility of case-by-case exceptions, to be determined by the secretary of State and the secretary of Homeland Security. Our hearts are hurting for people who have waited years to be resettled or to reunite with their families who will now have to wait even longer. We know most Americans support the U.S. resettlement program, and Idahoans value the strengths, skills, and friendship that neighbors from refugee backgrounds bring to our community. Providing safety to people fleeing persecution is a founding value of our nation. The Idaho Office for Refugees and our resettlement agency partners in Idaho are continuing to operate and keep our doors open during the suspension. The order does not affect the status or work authorization of people with refugee status who have already been resettled in the U.S. Update: On Jan. 24, resettlement agencies received a stop-work order from the Secretary of State directing them to stop administering Reception and Placement. This program is crucial in covering basic necessities, such as food and rent, for new arrivals and SIVs while they get settled and find employment. We encourage our community to make a donation to your local resettlement agency to help cover gaps during this challenge. What’s Next The secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the secretary of State, will submit a report to the president every 90 days on whether resuming refugee arrivals is in the interest of the United States. At that time, the president will determine if and when the resettlement program resumes. What Can You Do 1. Share Your Story: Tell us your resettlement story or a story about a time someone from a refugee background had an impact on your life. These stories will be used in our efforts to educate the public on the value of refugee resettlement in our community. SHARE YOUR STORY 2. Endorse our Legislative Lunch: Ask your business or organization to endorse our annual Idaho Appreciation Lunch: From Refugees to Lawmakers at the State Capitol. The lunch connects lawmakers with constituents from refugee backgrounds and demonstrates the breadth of support in Idaho for refugee resettlement. ENDORSE 3. Donate: Our work is not on pause during this time. Community support provides resources for Refugee Speakers Bureau community outreach, Global Talent’s career program, Global Gardens, the English Language Center, and more. DONATE 4. Voice Your Support: We all have influence in our circles, and our support matters. You can invite a member of the Refugee Speakers Bureau to your workplace, school, church or event. You can call or write your U.S. House representatives, U.S. senator, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Secretary of State offices and share why refugee resettlement matters to you, with a personal story of its impact in your life. Helpful Resources Explainer: The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Watch: Our interview with KTVB discusses the order and its impacts. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook for more updates, stories, and perspectives. Listen and Share: Hear and share stories of Idaho neighbors from refugee and immigrant backgrounds through our Mosaics Podcast, available on YouTube and podcast platforms. When someone personally knows a refugee, support for resettlement goes up. Connect with Us: If you have concerns or questions, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We are in this together. As we did during the resettlement program’s temporary suspension in 2017, we will stay true to our mission to welcome and support people granted refuge in the United States by providing opportunities for education, civic engagement, economic advancement, and belonging. We recognize that this week some of us may be experiencing fear of the unknown, anxiety around proposed policies, and even harm from misinformed messages directed toward refugees and immigrants. Let’s take time to acknowledge these feelings and then care for ourselves, for each other, and for our community. As we’ve done for decades, we will continue our commitment to support people granted refuge in Idaho to build a life where they can safely work and study, raise their families, build community, and pursue their dreams. The United States first passed refugee legislation in response to the urgent and critical needs of refugees negatively impacted by World War II. Americans remain committed to those values, with over 70% of voters supporting the refugee resettlement program. This support is shared among people of different faith traditions, different backgrounds, and different political beliefs. Despite our differences, we’re working together to pursue a path toward a brighter future. We remain dedicated to collaborating with community members, partners, and leaders to build a society of belonging, peace, and opportunity. You can join us in this effort by giving of your time, your resources, your skills, and your vocal support for the dignity of all people. We will continue to stay connected with you by sharing opportunities to connect and providing updates to changes that may impact our work and the communities we serve. We welcome your thoughts and feedback. Thank you for your tremendous support and ongoing engagement.   We understand the uncertainty of election outcomes can create anxiety, and we’d like to take a moment with you to remember our shared belief in the dignity of every human being.
One thing that has remained true for many decades is, Americans overwhelmingly support refugee resettlement. Our nation’s current refugee program unanimously passed the U.S. Senate in 1980. Today, resettlement continues to see wide support among Americans across different political and faith traditions. Overall, 71 percent of voters believe the United States should have a resettlement program. That number grows among people who personally know a refugee. It’s Welcoming Week, when communities around the country bring together neighbors of all backgrounds and build strong connections. Celebrate with us this Saturday at the Treasure Family YMCA’s Family Field Day!
Two Idahoans who resettled through the refugee program share their stories below about what helped them feel welcomed when they arrived, how they have overcome challenges, and how they found belonging in their new community. Read on to get to know them! USCIS is offering in-person public information sessions in Caldwell, Boise, and Nampa to answer your questions about petitioning for family members and the citizenship/naturalization process:
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June 2025
Author: Holly BeechIdaho Office for Refugees Communications Manager 
Thank you to the generous organizations who
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