Advocate for New Americans

Use your voice to advocate for New Americans and educate your legislators, friends, family and neighbors.

• Refugee Resettlement Facts
• Contact Your Representatives

Learn about issues affecting New Americans from U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), our partner organization. Browse and share data from New American Economy, a bipartisan research and advocacy organization striving to grow our economy and create jobs for all Americans.

Use impact stories from our blog and annual report to highlight New Minnesotans’ contributions to our communities, and follow the Institute’s news coverage to stay informed on developments affecting our New American clients.

Refugee Resettlement Facts

• Know the facts about refugees in Minnesota:
  • PDF: Read, print and share this fact sheet showing how refugees benefit Minnesota
  • Social media cards: Advocate for refugees through your social networks (click on an image below to enlarge and download). 

The preceding PDF/graphic resources are the result of a collaboration between the International Institute of Minnesota, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Arrive Ministries, Minnesota Council of Churches and Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. This information project was funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Resettlement Programs Office.

Additional Refugee Resettlement Data

• Refugee Arrival Map via Minnesota Department of Human Services
• The U.S. refugee resettlement program has historically had bipartisan support. In fact, more refugees have been resettled under Republican presidents than Democratic presidents.
  • Citation: United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
• Refugees benefit the communities they are resettled in economically and culturally, especially here in Minnesota.
  • Citations: Immigrant Workforce Development Factsheet, Immigrants and Minnesota’s Workforce, The Contributions of New Americans in Minnesota by New American Economy, Diverse Metros Means Higher Wages for All, Refugees revitalize American cities
• Despite fears that certain groups of New Americans are unwilling to assimilate, research indicates that New Americans are adapting to American culture more quickly today than at any other point in this country’s history.
  • Citations: The Integration of Immigrants into American Society, Case Studies of Immigrant Integration in Minnesota
• Our current refugee screening process is comprehensive and secure. It takes 18-24 months for a refugee to pass the background checks required for entry to the U.S.
  • Citations: America already uses strict refugee vetting, Ten Facts about Refugee Resettlement

Contact Your Representatives

• Minnesota Legislature: Find your elected representatives
• To call the White House, dial (202) 456-1414. This will take you to the switch board. Press 1 for the comment line.
• To email the White House, go to https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact. Please be aware that there is a 2,500 character count limit.