Pennsylvania Refugee Resettlement Program

The mission of the Refugee Resettlement Program is to help refugees and their families obtain employment, economic self-sufficiency and social integration within the shortest possible time after their arrival into the Commonwealth.

The Refugee Resettlement Program's providers often host special events and distribute articles containing relevent and important information about current refugee populations. Publicizing events, news, and current happenings pertinent to the refugee communities and our program is a major part of our program's effort.
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New Feature! Special Feature!: World Refugee Day 2010 - Click here for information and to view an interactive slideshow of exclusive photos from this year's exciting annual festival!

Since October 1, 1991, refugees from over thirty countries have resettled in the Commonwealth, representing diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. The Cumulative Arrival figures presented here include refugees per se, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Amerasian immigrants and Kurdish asylees initially resettled in Pennsylvania. Not included are other asylees, and refugees initially resettled in other states.

Most refugee resettlement entails reunification of family members and/or planned placement in regions where there are good prospects for rapid employment and sufficient support services to facilitate adjustment to life in the United States.
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Meskhetian woman making bread for afternoon tea

Click here to explore and learn more about the various home countries of Pennsylvania's refugees.

Meet Rakhima Arabova, a Meskhetian Turk refugee from Uzbekistan. Resettled by Lutheran Refugee Services of Lancaster, Rakhima and her family left the Russian village in which they were living and journeyed to American freedom in 2007. She describes her family's existence in that region of Russia as very limited.

"We had no rights there. A Meskhetian couldn't make much of a living, our children were not allowed an education, and we not permitted to become citizens. We didn't even feel like we could smile there without worrying about what might happen."

The resettlement of Mesketian Turks was facilitated by the International Organization for Migration between 2004 and 2007. An agreement between the United States and Russian governments was forged, and the departure of more than 11,000 Meskhetian was put into motion.

"The United States is such a wonderful country. Both my husband and I are able to work and our children have been given the opportunity to go to school. We feel very comfortable here and don't feel judged by anyone."

After the initial resettlement phase, Rakhima and her husband were enrolled in Lutheran Refugee Services' employment program and placed in jobs almost immediately. Her oldest child attends Millersville University studying Biology, and her two younger children are in high school and middle school. The Meskhetian community in Lancaster is a closely-knit group and often get together to celebrate religious and cultural events.
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