Educational and informational Resources
Below is information to learn more about refugees; who they are, why they are here and research done about the economic and other benefits they bring to America.
Who are these refugees?
The United Nations Refugee Agency, known as UNHCR, defines refugees as people who are outside their country and cannot return owing to a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.
Unfortunately, there are literally millions of people around the world who fall into this category.
How many are in Lincoln?
No one knows the exact numbers of refugees residing in Lincoln, but we do have a good idea of the different populations. In the last 20 years Nebraska has directly resettled thousands of people from places like Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Nigeria, Ukraine, Russia, Burma and more. Because Lincoln is a safe place to live, of moderate size, and has low unemployment, many refugees have moved here from other states to make it their permanent home. The Office of Refugee Resettlement
(ORR) provides the numbers resettled to Nebraska in the last few years.
How Does it help me?
Besides enriching our city with ethnic stores, restaurants and culture, much research
has been done to show the economic benefits refugees bring to their new homes.
The websites listed below provide more extensive information about refugees and the
benefits to having them in America.
- New Americans Task Force
- Nebraska State Refugee Resettlement Program
- AILA (American Immigration Lawyer's Association)
- Cultural Orientation Resource Center