Refugees Need Urgent Help - Double Your Donation

Project Description

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants’ Des Moines field office (USCRI Des Moines) is among the largest non-government, not-for-profit refugee resettlement agencies in Iowa, and has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable new Iowans for over 15 years. Due to recent executive orders from the White House, changes in federal policy, and funding restrictions, we have had to pause select federal programs and reduce staff. For many of the newest refugee arrivals, (who have traditionally received a brief period of comprehensive support from programs like those at USCRI Des Moines) they may be at risk for evictions, utility shut-offs, food shortages or hunger, and lack of access to medical care.

To survive what may be a long time of uncertainty in the political sphere, we’ll need to work together with supporters like you to navigate the severe challenges before us.

We're grateful to announce that a generous Iowa donor has stepped forward with a transformative challenge: Every dollar donated will be doubled, up to $125,000—unlocking up to $250,000 in critical funding for refugee and immigrant support programs suffering from funding uncertainty.

We believe America’s history of welcoming refugees is the cornerstone of what has made our country truly great, says the anonymous donor behind the challenge. However, recent disruptions in federal funding have forced organizations like USCRI Des Moines to cut staff and limit services. If you also believe in the value of welcoming refugees and immigrants, we hope our challenge will inspire you to show up for USCRI and donate as a way to put your beliefs into action.

Financial support is critical as we face an urgent need to adapt to the changing landscape while continuing to provide essential services such as youth programs, English classes, healthcare navigation, employment support, and legal assistance.

For refugees and immigrants building new lives in Iowa, timely support can mean the difference between stability and crisis, according to Samantha Huynh, USCRI Des Moines Field Office Director. To survive what may be a long period of uncertainty, we must work together with our community to navigate these challenges. We hope you’ll join us by donating or helping where you can so we can be a light of hope for another fifteen years.

What is resettlement?
Resettlement is most frequently used for refugees whose life, liberty, safety, health or human rights are at risk in the country where they have sought refuge. Assisting an individual in resettling to a third country becomes the primary objective or priority when there is no other way to guarantee the legal or physical security of the refugee. 

How has refugee resettlement changed in our community?
The new administration suspended all refugee admissions indefinitely as of January 21, 2025. On January 24, USCRI and other refugee-serving organizations received "stop work" orders from the U.S. Department of State that prohibits resettlement support for newly arrived refugees. At the agency level, the federal funding that coincides with refugee admissions is now gone with the termination of new arrivals to the U.S. In addition to providing as much support as possible to new Iowans who arrived before January 20, USCRI Des Moines still operates other programs that serve refugees and immigrants such as Legal and Refugee Employment Services, Refugee Youth, Ready4Life, and Refugee Wellness programs on a limited capacity.