Over the last few years, immigration has become a hot topic in communities across the United States. Depending on what you’ve heard, the topic is likely to conjure up a number of feelings — confusion being one of them.
Who are the immigrants arriving at the U.S. southern border?
Who are refugees? Who are asylum seekers? Is there a difference?
Is there a right way to respond to all this?
Immigration issues are complex. But at the heart of these issues are women, men and children who are made in the image of God. And they long to live flourishing lives.
We're here to answer your questions. Read through to gain clarity, hear stories and find the answers you've been looking for.
WHO IS AN IMMIGRANT?
An immigrant is anyone who leaves their home country - the place where they were born - and goes to live in another place.
Immigrant is a wide-ranging, umbrella term that encompasses refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, asylees and more.
A person qualifies as an immigrant whether they leave by choice or are forced to flee.
Meet Jerome
An Immigrant's Journey to Belonging
“What’s going to happen to me? Who’s going to receive me? How am I going to live?”
These were all questions asked by Jerome Bizimana, now a World Relief staff member.
Jerome became a U.S. citizen after his struggle to escape hate and violence.
At times it felt like a hopeless quest for peace. How did he persevere? How did he rebuild his life in the United States and overcome challenges along the way? Watch this video interview with Jerome to find out. And listen to his words to become a witness of Jerome’s journey to belonging.
Listen to Jerome tell his own story of the immigrant experience in the 21st century.
What is World Relief Doing to Help?
Jerome's story illustrates the difficulties immigrants face when trying to adjust to a new life in a different country. Together with people like you, World Relief works diligently to help immigrants by meeting basic needs, providing legal guidance, facilitating citizenship classes, ESL classes, job placement programming and more once immigrants arrive in the U.S.
WHO IS A REFUGEE?
In the U.S. context, someone who is still overseas and has fled their home country due to a demonstrated and credible fear of persecution on account of: race, religion, political opinion, national origin or social group.
They come to the U.S. after the government or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) approves their refugee status. Only a small share of the world's refugees are selected for resettlement to the U.S.
Meet Ali
A Refugee Pharmacist Gives Back to Others
"I know what an overwhelming experience it is to start over in a new country. If I can help ease the transition of one refugee, it is worth it.”
A man named Ali AlQaisi arrived in the U.S. as a refugee from Iraq in 2010. At home in Baghdad, he worked as a pharmacist. But when he and his family arrived in the U.S., he had to start over entirely. He had to rebuild his life. He had to restart his career.
And it would not be easy.
Listen to Ali share his own story of triumphant hope at the World Relief 2021 Global Gala and how he now gives that same hope to others.
What is World Relief Doing to Help?
Since our founding over 40 years ago, our national network has welcomed over 300,000 refugees to the United States and served over 125,000 other immigrants by providing community connections and vital services like ESL classes, job training and placement, youth mentorship and more.
WHO IS AN ASYLUM SEEKER?
An asylum seeker is one who arrives at the U.S. border seeking refuge from violence and/or persecution. They become an asylee once their request for asylum has been approved by the U.S. government and they're living in the United States.
There's a difference between asylum seekers and refugees. Refugees have their status approved before they enter the United States. Asylum seekers make their claim once they arrive in the United States.
It's legal for any person who professes to have a credible fear of persecution to request asylum in the U.S. whether that person enters at an airport, at a land crossing or without any formal inspection along the border.
Meet Yomardy
Seeking Asylum: "I was no longer safe in my own country."
"I am from Venezuela. One of the most wonderful countries in South America."
Yomardy describes Venezuela's terrain as beautiful and diverse. Her community as kind, honest and humble. And the Venezuelan women as brave, strong and willing to do whatever it takes to care for their families.
So, why did Yomardy leave a country she fully loved and a people she deeply admired?
Listen to Yomardy share her own story of risk, fear and perseverance as she chose to seek asylum in the United States.
What is World Relief Doing to Help?
For more than two years, World Relief has been deploying legal services professionals to the border to help provide general information on who may qualify for asylum under U.S. law to individuals interested in requesting asylum in the United States, including those staying in church-based shelters. In Chicagoland, World Relief along with people like you provides vital services and connects asylum seekers with volunteers and churches seeking to show welcome.
WHO IS A HUMANITARIAN PAROLEE?
A humanitarian parolee is allowed to temporarily enter the U.S. due to an emergency, urgent humanitarian reason, or significant public benefit.
The recent immigrants from Ukraine and Afghanistan are humanitarian parolees. Although they were granted legal entry into the U.S. relatively quickly, the pathway to residence is not as clear as it is for someone with refugee status.
Meet Farzana
Farzana's Story: An escape from Taliban rule.
"I never think one day that all Afghanistan people go back 20 years. It’s really difficult for all Afghanistan."
Before Kabul had fallen to the Taliban in August 2021, Farzana never could have imagined fleeing her country. Now this Paralympian found herself separated from her family, living alone in a foreign country unable to speak its language.
Listen to Farzana share what it was like to flee Afghanistan, adjust to a new life in the U.S., and the one thing that made a big difference.
What is World Relief Doing to Help?
Humanitarian parolees don't receive many of the same rights and benefits as refugees. Because parolees often don't qualify for traditional resettlement services, World Relief provides them with gap services that address critical needs and enable them to integrate into the community.
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