INTRODUCTION

Founded in March 2023, Alliance for Refugees and Immigrants, Inc. is dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment for refugees and immigrants who have been forced to flee their home countries due to persecution, conflict, or other forms of violence. Alliance for Refugees and Immigrants aims to assist refugees in rebuilding their lives in the US by providing the necessary resources, support, and services to help the refugees and immigrants integrate into their new communities. This includes finding housing, employment, healthcare, education, language training, and cultural orientation. We also work to promote diversity, tolerance, and understanding among the larger community, and advocate for policies that protect and support refugees. Ultimately our goal is to help refugees become self-sufficient and productive members of their new societies while preserving their dignity, culture, and human rights.

OUR HISTORY

The United States has a long history of welcoming refugees from around the world. The earliest recorded instances of refugee resettlement in the United States date back to the 17th century, when French Huguenots and English Puritans fled religious persecution in their home countries.

In the 20th century, the United States became a major destination for refugees fleeing war, genocide, and political persecution. After World War II, the US government established the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, which allowed hundreds of thousands of Europeans displaced by the war to enter the country as refugees.

In the following decades, the US admitted refugees from a range of conflicts and crises, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In the 1970s, the US admitted large numbers of refugees from Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

In the 1980s, the US admitted refugees from conflicts in Central America, including the civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua. In the 1990s, the US admitted refugees from conflicts in Somalia, Bosnia, and Kosovo.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the US government tightened its immigration policies and refugee resettlement programs. However, the US continued to admit refugees from a range of conflicts and crises, including the Syrian civil war and the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar.

In 2007, the US government launched the Iraqi Refugee Processing Program to help resettle Iraqis who had been displaced by the war in Iraq. The program aimed to expedite the processing of Iraqi refugees and improve their access to services once they arrived in the United States.

In 2011, the US government launched the Afghan Allies Protection Act, which allowed Afghan nationals who had worked for the US government or military in Afghanistan to apply for special immigrant visas (SIVs) to come to the US. The program has since been expanded to include Afghans who have worked for US-funded projects in Afghanistan and who face threats to their safety as a result.

In recent years, the US government has faced criticism for its handling of the refugee crisis in Syria. While the US has admitted tens of thousands of Syrian refugees since the conflict began in 2011, the number of admissions has been relatively low compared to other countries. 

The Trump administration suspended the USRAP for several months in 2017, leading to delays and uncertainty for refugees already in the resettlement process. The Biden administration has pledged to restore the US refugee program and increase the number of admissions in the coming years.

In 2022, after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Ukrainians received parole at U.S. ports of entry to be admitted into the United States under the refugee admission program.  

Overall, the US has admitted millions of refugees over the course of its history, and has played a significant role in providing safe haven for those fleeing persecution and conflict around the world.