Communities across Idaho to honor World Refugee Day

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.

In January, refugee arrivals were paused by an executive order, leaving approved refugees in limbo and prolonging family separations. Idaho resettlement organizations have also been working with community members facing the anxiety of losing their humanitarian parole or temporary protected status – both legal immigration programs for people who left unsafe conditions in their home countries.

The community has stepped up in big ways – from local attorneys hosting immigration clinics and educational events, to businesses and individuals donating essential resources and showing support for resettlement.
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“This wasn’t just about a policy change – it was about people’s lives,” said Nick Armstrong of Glocal Community Partners, a nonprofit in Boise that assists refugee neighbors. “The community kicked into gear to give of their time, treasure, and talents. Gathering together with courage and the conviction to love our neighbor and welcome the stranger unleashes a superpower that rivals any Marvel movie I have ever seen.” 

Refugees are people who have fled their home countries to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and have sought safety in another country. In Idaho, refugees find hope for a brighter future as they resettle in Boise and Twin Falls and build lives contributing to their new community.

Over the past decade, Idaho has welcomed an average of 800 refugees each year from more than 20 countries. The top nations of origin for refugees resettling in Idaho over the past year are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, and Venezuela.  
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"Resettling here in Idaho gave my family and me our lives back," said Eliza Shabire, whose family fled the Democratic Republic of Congo to Rwanda when she was 6. Years later, in 2020, Shabire was welcomed to Idaho to reunite with her dad.  

​"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,” Eliza said. “From the day I landed in Boise, 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." 
Shabire is also teaching preschool, working at a behavioral health hospital, and raising a daughter with her husband. 

“It makes me happy and proud to help people to live better lives as well as raise future generations of this country,” she said. “Refugees are strong, hardworking, intelligent, 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. Together, we can achieve more."    

People granted refugee status and asylum in the United States give back in big ways. From 2005 to 2019, they had a net positive economic benefit of $123.8 billion nationwide, according to a 2024 study by the Department of Health and Human Services. In Idaho, over 600 employers have hired refugees over the past decade.    

World Refugee Day, recognized around the world on June 20 since 2001, is a time to connect across cultures, celebrate traditions, stand in solidarity with one another, and honor those still waiting to be welcomed to a safe community. Please join us!  
 
EVENT DETAILS: WORLD REFUGEE DAY  

​World Refugee Day Boise 

• 5-9 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the new West Bench Farmers Market, 3085 N. Cole Road, Boise 
• Bring your friends and family to enjoy food and music, learn about different cultures, and meet new people. Free event with food available for purchase, and meal vouchers available to newcomers to America. Hosted by the Idaho Office for Refugees with support from Agency for New Americans, International Rescue Committee in Boise, and Ukrainian Welcome Center, and sponsored by the City of Boise, Clarvida, the Islamic Center of Boise, and Agri Beef. 

​A World of Hope: Refugee Bazaar in Twin Falls 

• 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 20, at Stonehouse & Co., 330 4th Ave. S., Twin Falls 
• A one-of-a-kind cultural celebration and fundraiser hosted by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Inc. in partnership with Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho. Experience the vibrant traditions, flavors, and stories of the refugee communities we serve – all while making a meaningful impact. Your registration directly supports our mission to create a brighter, more compassionate world. Together, we can uplift and empower those rebuilding their lives. Tickets available online. 

World Refugee Day in Pocatello 

• 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, June 20 
• At Lookout Point, 426 W. Lewis St., Pocatello 
• Celebrating diversity of cultures in the Pocatello area through traditional food, music, dance, songs, games and activities. No entrance fee. People from around the world enrich our city, and this event showcases the best our community has to offer. Hosted with support from Bridges Idaho. 

For more information and resources, see the Idaho Resource ‎Guide and Neighbors United Network. ‎Hear more from Eliza Shabire and other Idahoans from refugee backgrounds on the Mosaics podcast by the Idaho Office for Refugees. 

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