Refugee Resettlement in Arkansas

An affiliate office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Migration and Refugee Services

“In this world of globalization we have fallen into a globalization of indifference. We are accustomed to the suffering of others, it doesn’t concern us, it’s none of our business.” — Pope Francis, July 8, 2013

The Refugee Resettlement Office, a ministry of Catholic Charities of Arkansas (CCA), provides services and assistance to refugees, asylees, Special Immigrants from Iraq and Afghanistan (SIVs) Cuban parolees and victims of trafficking. This diocesan office works closely with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Migration and Refugee Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement. On Jan. 1, 2024, CCA’s Refugee Resettlement Office became an affiliate office with the USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services. With the new status came a much larger caseload of clients. Read Arkansas Catholic to learn how you can help. | Reception and Placement Program Explained | Contact Us

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“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions, whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.” — George Washington, (Dec. 2, 1783) The U.S. refugee resettlement program should be a source of immense national pride. The program has saved countless lives, put millions of impoverished persons on a path to work, self-sufficiency and integration, and advanced US standing in the world. Read this report that details the benefits of welcoming refugees. | Three Common Myths About Refugees

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Refugee Resettlement Services

• Assists refugees and sponsors with completing mandatory paperwork
• Facilitates the reunification of refugees and their families living in the United States | Vetting Process
• Receives refugees upon arrival and provides post-arrival services, such as orientation, job placement assistance, referral to English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, etc.
• Provides social services to Afghans who arrived through Operation Allies Welcome federal program with integration into their new community | How Afghan Refugees Get to Arkansas
• Advocates for refugees

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How Afghan Refugees Get to Arkansas

The Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Office works with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Migration and Refugee Services, which mission states, in part: “Grounded by our belief in Jesus Christ and Catholic teaching, MRS fulfills the commitment of the U.S. Catholic bishops to protect the life and dignity of the human person.” Once Afghans arrive at a base in the United States and after going through a thorough vetting process, MRS will assign a case to its different member agencies throughout the country. Based on the capacity of the agency, they will say yes or no to accepting the case. If Catholic Charities of Arkansas (CCA) or any agency says yes to a case, they are committing to following multiple requirements by the U.S. State Department. Some examples of the list of requirements include everything from making sure they have a ride from the airport to helping them get a social security number and medical screening. Resettlement takes about six weeks to three months to complete, and CCA is there when needed even after that process is complete. The following resources from the USCCB Justice for Immigrants website offer a more detailed explanation about the crisis in Afghanistan and why refugees were evacuated:

• U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan and Afghan SIVs
• The Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program

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