States that have accepted the most refugees in the past decade
States that have accepted the most refugees in the past decade
For centuries, immigrants and refugees have seen the United States as a land of opportunity where talented and hard-working people can succeed and assimilate, and where a safe haven can offer respite from strife elsewhere in the world. Yet refugee policies differ significantly from state to state, with larger, coastal states like California and New York having the infrastructure, education, and social climates required to more easily support incoming refugees.
From 2010 to 2019, the United States has accepted a total of 577,787 refugees from countries all over the world. However, refugee acceptance has dropped significantly since President Donald Trump took office in 2017. Between 2010 and 2016, the United States was taking in an average of 70,000 people a year. That number has dropped to about 32,000 refugees a year since 2017, and the rate of refugee acceptance in 2019 is the lowest it's been in 10 years, with only 18,769 people granted refugee status in the country and receiving federal aid.
Using June 2019 data from the Refugee Processing Center Admissions and Arrivals, Stacker looked at the number of refugees each state has accepted in the past decade. This gallery uses the Refugee Processing Center's data set, organized by federal fiscal years, to rank all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, by the total number of refugees each state has taken in since 2010.
By "taking in," Stacker is referring to state-sponsored resettlement, defined by the United Nations as a process in which governments select and allow the "most vulnerable refugees" into their nations. Resettlement is a long and complicated process, including receiving legal refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, applying for a referral to the U.S., and becoming matched with an American resettlement organization, which places refugees (usually in family groups) and provides them with aid.
Click through the slides to find out how your state ranks on this list and the national origins of admitted refugees.
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#52. Wyoming
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 1 (0.1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 0
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Somalia (1)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Cheyenne (1)
As of 2018, Wyoming is the only state in the union without a refugee resettlement program. This means that refugees in the state aren't able to get federal benefits—something many of them rely on for at least a short period when faced with the challenge of creating an entirely new life. The lack of organizations and aid in the state accounts for the fact that Wyoming has only admitted a single refugee over the past decade.
#51. Puerto Rico
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 10 (1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 0
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Cuba (10)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Trujillo Alto (4), Guaynabo (3), San Juan (2)
Historically, Puerto Rico, an American territory, hasn't taken many refugees, but that could all change soon. As the island's population has taken a steep decline over recent years, thanks to low birth rates and out-migration, experts are suggesting that Puerto Rico could be the perfect solution for many Spanish-speaking refugees and immigrants looking to start life anew in the mainland United States.
#50. Hawaii
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 20 (2 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 0
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (14), Iraq (4), China (1)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Honolulu (11), Mililani (6), Lihue (2)
According to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, in 2017, Hawaii only received $75,000 of federal aid to put toward social services for refugees—one of the lowest amounts given to any state. Combined with the fact that Hawaii only has one resettlement center, the Pacific Gateway Center, it's not surprising that the Aloha State has only welcomed an average of two refugees a year over the last decade.
#49. Mississippi
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 77 (7.7 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 9
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Eritrea (25), Afghanistan (14), Burma (14)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Jackson (67), Carthage (3), Madison (3)
Mississippi is not a particularly welcoming state for refugees and asylum seekers. In 2015, at the height of the Syrian refugee crisis, The Clarion-Ledger reported that Phil Bryant, the state's governor, had announced that he would do “everything humanly possible to stop any plans from the Obama Administration to put Syrian refugees in Mississippi.” While he hasn't taken the same stance on refugees from other countries, Mississippi remains one of the least open states, accepting only 77 refugees over the past nine years.
#48. Delaware
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 78 (7.8 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 4
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (27), Democratic Republic of the Congo (17), Eritrea (8)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Wilmington (49), Georgetown (22), Bear (3)
In 2018 a bill was introduced to the House during Delaware's 149th General Assembly. The bill would require the Department of Social Services to notify the governor and the secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security of the existence of any refugee resettled in the state who had previously lived in a country on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. While the bill was stricken in the House, its existence prompted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to add the state to their list of states who promoted "anti-refugee legislation," and brought about bad press.
#47. District of Columbia
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 131 (13.1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 5
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (52), Eritrea (35), Ethiopia (9)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Washington, D.C.
As a part of their “What's With Washington” series, American University in Washington D.C. revealed that the Ethiopian community in the area was the largest outside of Africa, and that in the 1980s and 1990s more refugees came to the city from that country than any other. Over the last 10 years, however, the largest number of refugees in the Washington D.C. area have come from Iraq, fleeing the same invasive wars and totalitarian governments that Ethiopians fled from decades ago.
#46. West Virginia
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 166 (16.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 2
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (57), Burma (49), Eritrea (42)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Moorefield (90), Morgantown (22), Charleston (20)
In February 2019 a bill was introduced to the House in West Virginia that would ban sanctuary cities in the state and would give local governments the power to ban refugees in some instances. The House Bill 2664 has yet to be put to the vote, and if it passes the bill could significantly limit the number of refugees accepted by the Mountain State, particularly those who come from Muslim countries like Iraq and Burma (officially called Myanmar).
#45. Arkansas
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 233 (23.3 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 33
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Democratic Republic of the Congo (91), Burma (43), Iraq (42)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Fayetteville (146), Clarksville (23), Little Rock (15)
Arkansas has only one official refugee resettlement agency, Canopy Northwest Arkansas. The organization has been authorized to resettle 35 individuals each year, all of which must be family reconnects (aka refugees who are reconnecting with family already living in Arkansas). As of June 2019, the agency is well on their way to meeting their allotted goal for the 2019 fiscal year.
#44. Montana
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 298 (29.8 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 63
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Democratic Republic of the Congo (172), Eritrea (89), Iraq (17)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Missoula (297), Helena (1)
A 2018 report by the New American Economy and the International Rescue Committee found that the immigrant and refugee community in Missoula, Mont., was critical to both the economy and the workforce, with a total spending power of $93 million after taxes. Only a year prior, in 2017, a group of women had convinced the International Rescue Committee to establish a refugee resettlement organization in the same town. Supporters are hopeful that the study's findings will encourage lawmakers to open the state's borders to more refugees and will inspire the development of more refugee resettlement organizations.
#43. Alaska
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 955 (95.5 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 35
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Somalia (278), Ukraine (116), Sudan (112)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Anchorage (831), Wasilla (91), Delta Junction (18)
In 2017, Anchorage, the leading city in Alaska for newly settled refugees, began working on new policies that would allow for easier integration of said refugees and immigrants. In particular, the city worked to re-shape the Mountain View neighborhood, which had suffered from disinvestment, high unemployment, and transient tenancy. Fresh International Gardens, an urban farm that employs only refugees, earned $13,000 in 2017. With the success of the new program, the city will probably continue to invest more money into their refugee resettlement programs and attract an increasingly large number of new asylum seekers.
#42. Alabama
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 959 (95.9 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 4
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (274), Democratic Republic of the Congo (174), Somalia (174)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Mobile (908), Birmingham (11), Foley (7)
In Mobile, Ala., a city deep in the South with borders on the Gulf Coast, there is a blossoming Iraqi refugee community. Over the last nine years over 900 refugees have settled in the city, the vast majority of them fleeing the persecution and political turmoil in Iraq. Catholic Social Services and a charity called Dwell Mobile take on most of the leg work required to help these new residents find their feet and get acclimated to this new way of life.
#41. Louisiana
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 1,644 (164.4 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 11
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (494), Iraq (390), Cuba (173)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Baton Rouge (917), Lafayette (174), Alexandria (121)
According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants and refugees are an essential part of the Louisiana labor force. In the state, this refugee and immigrant group accounts for 23% of the farming, fishing, and forestry industries, and they make up a significant portion of business owners in the New Orleans metropolitan area. This information seems to back the idea that refugees can become major positive contributors to the communities in which they come to reside, rather than drains on federal resources.
#40. South Carolina
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 1,737 (173.7 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 133
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (565), Democratic Republic of the Congo (299), Ukraine (248)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Columbia (1,248), Inman (160), Spartanburg (123)
During the 2018 fiscal year, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster filed paperwork with the federal government requesting that refugees from the six countries targeted by President Trump's travel ban (Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) not be settled in his state. McMaster cited vetting concerns and possible terrorist links as his primary reason for making the filing, a move which many outsiders saw as being discriminatory towards Muslim communities.
#39. Rhode Island
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 1,768 (176.8 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 67
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Democratic Republic of the Congo (368), Bhutan (254), Burma (217)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Providence (1,649), Cranston (34), Warwick (14)
Family reunification was a major goal for refugee resettlement under previous presidents. However, President Trump's tough refugee policies have changed all of that. For example, for the 136 Syrian refugees settled in Rhode Island the travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries and the decision not to extend Temporary Protected Status to Syrians who arrived in the U.S. after August 2016 means that they may never see their family members again—something they described to The Providence Journal as having caused them acute mental stress.
#38. New Mexico
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 1,849 (184.9 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 67
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (383), Democratic Republic of the Congo (374), Afghanistan (208)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Albuquerque (1,813), Rio Rancho (24), Clovis (6)
Santa Fe, N.M., became one of the country's first sanctuary cities in 1999. Additionally, the city and county do not allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers into their jails. The state as a whole tends to have a refugee- and immigrant-friendly attitude, thanks to their time as a colony of Mexico. For example, in response to the recent flux of Mexican asylum seekers, the state has opened dozens of new shelters and mobile medical units.
#37. Vermont
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 2,820 (282. per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 105
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Bhutan (1,763), Democratic Republic of the Congo (355), Somalia (293)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Burlington (1,216), Colchester (763), Winooski (592)
During the 2016 presidential campaign season, Rutland garnered national attention for its plan to accept 25 to 30 refugee families from countries like Syria and Iraq. But after President Trump's travel and refugee ban, those plans had to be abandoned, leaving only a handful of refugees in the city in place of the 100 or so they'd expected. It's a story repeated in towns and cities all around the state—the 2019 fiscal year will see an extraordinarily low number of refugees (compared to previous years) making Vermont their new home.
#36. Oklahoma
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 2,905 (290.5 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 121
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (2,316), Iraq (231), Eritrea (62)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Tulsa (1,333), Oklahoma City (1,051), Jenks (167)
In South Tulsa, there is a Burmese refugee community several thousand people strong. It's estimated to be the largest group of Zomi people in the United States. Hailing from the Chin State, the Zomi people are primarily fleeing poverty and religious persecution.
#35. Maine
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 2,926 (292.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 103
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Somalia (1,122), Iraq (1,012), Democratic Republic of the Congo (390)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Portland (2,033), Lewiston (308), Westbrook (220)
Lewiston, formerly one of the least racially diverse towns in the country, now has a huge and thriving Somali community of nearly 7,000 refugees. It hasn't all been smooth sailing—there have been accusations of welfare fraud and murders—but there have also been high moments, like a 2017 soccer state championship win. It remains to be seen how the country's current attitude towards refugees will affect the dynamics in the town and in the state that has historically taken in a considerable amount of refugees each year.
#34. New Hampshire
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 3,756 (375.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 144
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Bhutan (1,563), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1,042), Iraq (398)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Concord (1,994), Manchester (1,412), Nashua (320)
In 2019, New Hampshire was ranked #2 overall in U.S. News and World Report's 2019 Best States rankings and #1 for opportunity—making it appealing to refugees from all over the world. While the state is overwhelming white, its “new American” population is growing, and large communities of African and Asian peoples are flourishing. The local government's focus on equal opportunity makes this a place that newly resettled refugees find “safe and secure.”
#33. New Jersey
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 3,799 (379.9 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 145
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Cuba (886), Iraq (593), Syria (554)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Elizabeth (1,587), Camden (388), Jersey City (285)
Many of the refugees who found a haven in New Jersey fled their home countries due to religious persecution and war. Now, NorthJersey.com reports, many of them are leaving New Jersey because of high living costs and safety concerns. Syrian refugees, in particular, plan to head to Michigan, which traditionally has a significantly larger refugee population and may be more welcoming to them.
#32. North Dakota
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 4,122 (412.2 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 75
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Bhutan (2,135), Iraq (675), Somalia (615)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Fargo (3,051), Grand Forks (833), Bismarck (222)
Like nearly every other state in the union, North Dakota has found the number of refugees it's accepted drop since Trump has tightened policies surrounding immigration. However, the state is pushing back on the policies by highlighting the benefits of opening borders. A 2018 study showed that over the past 22 years refugees in the Fargo and Grand Forks regions contributed $900 million to the GDP, meeting the areas' major workforce challenges, and paying back the original cost of resettlement.
#31. South Dakota
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 4,269 (426.9 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 87
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Bhutan (1,379), Burma (1,065), Somalia (470)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Sioux Falls (3,429), Huron (830), South Sioux City (6)
Similarly to the one in Arkansas, South Dakota's refugee resettlement program largely focuses on family reunification—a model the state has found to be successful so far. Sioux Falls, a city with more job openings than unemployed people, has been the primary location for these family reunifications and has proven to be a fantastic starting point for those looking to find gainful employment as they begin their lives anew.
#30. Connecticut
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 4,509 (450.9 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 107
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Democratic Republic of the Congo (845), Iraq (804), Burma (551)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Hartford (1,876), New Haven (1,651), Bridgeport (444)
Connecticut has the largest concentration of Syrian refugees in all of New England, according to the Associated Press. However, the number has dropped sharply over the last few years, from 367 in 2016 to 5 in 2018, thanks in large part to President Trump's new policies.
#29. Nevada
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 4,682 (468.2 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 148
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Cuba (872), Democratic Republic of the Congo (820), Iraq (520)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Las Vegas (4,481), Reno (139), North Las Vegas (22)
In early 2019 activists rallied in Carson City, petitioning for policies that will improve and protect the lives and rights of refugees across the state. The group cited the crisis at the southern border as the reason for the rally, but reassured decision makers that they were fighting for those who come from all corners of the world.
#28. Kansas
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 4,890 (489. per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 300
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (1,715), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1,097), Bhutan (543)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Kansas City (2,213), Wichita (1,886), Garden City (425)
As the flow of refugees destined for Kansas each year slows to a trickle, the charities, nonprofits, and other organizations that help settle and support these individuals are being forced to close their doors. One of the remaining refugee resettlement agencies in the state—the Catholic Charities—only works with new Americans for their first 90 days in the country, leaving many without the vital support they need to adjust to their new life and find success.
#27. Iowa
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 5,881 (588.1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 492
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (2,429), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1,058), Bhutan (852)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Des Moines (4,205), Cedar Rapids (409), Marshalltown (188)
In early 2018, The Des Moines Register reported that dozens of Burmese refugees had received letters from immigration officials asking them to appear at an interview and provide information and documentation that validated their status as asylum seekers. It was a controversial move that caused a wave of fear among the community. In the end, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department stood by the decision, saying it was the only way to ensure the information they'd been given was accurate.
#26. Idaho
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 7,868 (786.8 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 273
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,063), Burma (1,136), Iraq (1,079)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Boise (5,317), Twin Falls (2,479), Meridian (38)
For the past 11 years, Boise has been a top 10 per capita refugee resettlement site, according to the report, "Refugee Outreach and Engagement Programs for Police Agencies," by the Police Executive Research Forum. The mid-sized city has a low cost of living and a healthy economy constrained by an aging workforce, which makes it a near-ideal place for communities of Burmese, Iraqi, and Congolese refugees to flourish.
#25. Oregon
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 8,473 (847.3 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 315
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (1,497), Iraq (1,424), Somalia (1,387)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Portland (7,665), Beaverton (466), Gresham (77)
In 2019, Oregon introduced House Bill 2508, which, as of June, is still sitting in the House committee. The bill would fund refugee emergency services for newly arrived refugees. Supporters of the bill argue that “when given proper services and intensive case management, refugees make vast contributions to the economy, diversity, and social fabric of the state.” It's a sharp rebuke to those in the state, and around the country, who believe that refugees are a drain on our country's economy and resources and are best left outside of our borders.
#24. Utah
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 8,827 (882.7 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 330
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Somalia (1,657), Burma (1,476), Iraq (1,441)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Salt Lake City (8,037), West Valley City (134), Murray (120)
In May 2019, Utah's refugee community presented Gov. Gary Herbert with a lifetime achievement award for the welcome and support he's given the nearly 65,000 refugees who have settled there over the last several decades. In 2017, Herbert signed a minority and refugee resolution called Guarding the Civil Liberties and Freedoms for all American People, further protecting the rights of the new Americans who now call Utah home.
#23. Nebraska
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 8,837 (883.7 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 266
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (4,056), Bhutan (1,617), Iraq (1,338)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Omaha (6,087), Lincoln (2,447), Grand Island (109)
Many Americans place Nebraska firmly in the middle of "flyover state" country, but for thousands of refugees, Nebraska has become the middle of everything. The state has an incredibly welcoming attitude towards refugees, illustrated by things like Lincoln High School being selected as a "School of Opportunity" in 2017. The Schools of Opportunity project recognizes eight public high schools that are working to close the opportunity gaps by creating learning environments that reach and serve every student.
#22. Wisconsin
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 9,289 (928.9 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 382
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (5,058), Iraq (1,074), Somalia (1,068)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Milwaukee (7,073), Oshkosh (719), Madison (623)
Former Burma residents are by far the fastest growing refugee group in Wisconsin. The Karen people, who come from an eastern section of the country near Thailand, make up the vast majority of Burmese refugees in the state. Unfortunately, many of these Karen refugees, facing dwindling aid and limited resources, are struggling with depression, poverty, and rising suicide rates.
#21. Maryland
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 11,186 (1,118.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 413
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (2,693), Bhutan (1,680), Iraq (1,326)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Baltimore (5,614), Silver Spring (2,972), Riverdale (824)
In the summer of 2018, the Iraqi refugee community in Maryland made headlines when they brought to light the racial profiling and vandalism several families in the community had been facing. These families had fled their war-torn country only to find persecution in their new neighborhood by individuals who believed they had no right to be there. The incidents described led many to wonder if states around the union are doing enough to prevent bias-related attacks from happening.
#20. Missouri
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 11,596 (1,159.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 442
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Somalia (2,249), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,084), Burma (1,851)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Saint Louis (5,171), Kansas City (4,247), Columbia (1,177)
Missouri is facing a very similar plight to Kansas. As the overall cap on refugees allowed to resettle in the country has lowered, the individual number accepted by the state of Missouri has shrunk, forcing many resettlement agencies to close their doors or take significant cuts in funding. For example, the organization in Columbia currently only has four full-time staff members, meaning they rely heavily on volunteer assistance and aren't always able to provide the services refugees need.
#19. Virginia
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 11,651 (1,165.1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 399
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (3,436), Bhutan (2,294), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1,238)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Richmond (1,704), Harrisonburg (1,563), Charlottesville (1,525)
Virginia has a sizeable Iraqi refugee population, and now one of their own is running for public office. Yasmine Taeb fled her home country with her family at the tender age of 7, leaving behind war and violence for the hope of a better life. Taeb is challenging longtime state Senate seat holder Richard Saslaw (Democrat), hoping that if she succeeds in taking the seat, she can push the party in new ways and continue to fight for refugees.
#18. Tennessee
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 12,478 (1,247.8 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 415
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (2,555), Iraq (2,553), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1,687)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Nashville (7,668), Memphis (1,400), Knoxville (1,369)
Tennessee is currently locked in a battle with the federal government over who should foot the bill for the hundreds of refugees settled around the state as a part of the federal refugee resettlement program each year. As things stand now, Tennessee could stand to lose a large chunk of their federal funding if they don't use state funds to cover the costs associated with resettlement. However, the state is arguing that this is "unconstitutional compulsion" and that federal funds should be used to cover the costs of resettlement instead. Stay tuned to see how this legal battle plays out.
#17. Indiana
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 12,566 (1,256.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 552
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (9,501), Democratic Republic of the Congo (934), Iraq (477)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Indianapolis (10,421), Fort Wayne (1,618), South Bend (103)
When the current Vice President Mike Pence was governor of Indiana, he attempted to block the settlement of Syrian refugees in his state. In 2018, a federal judge ruled that it was beyond Pence's power and that the state must continue to pay the agencies who worked to resettle these refugees.
#16. Colorado
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 13,992 (1,399.2 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 399
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (3,685), Bhutan (2,645), Iraq (1,857)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Denver (9,851), Aurora (1,338), Greeley (1,236)
In 2018 the Denver Post reported that upwards of 3,500 Bhutanese refugees have resettled in the state. The community is an especially enterprising one, with many of them owning small businesses and becoming major players in the workforce. The slowing of refugees taken in by the state, both Bhutanese and otherwise, is set to have noticeable impacts on the state's economy and labor markets.
#15. Massachusetts
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 14,064 (1,406.4 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 298
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (3,822), Bhutan (2,725), Somalia (1,916)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Worcester (3,462), West Springfield (2,499), Springfield (1,814)
A 2019 report from the Boston Foundation revealed that many of President Trump's immigration policies are having adverse effects on the state's refugees. While the policies target illegal immigrants, many of them, like the changes made to Temporary Protected Status immigrants and the proposed changes to the public charge rule, could affect thousands of refugees and keep them from ever becoming naturalized citizens.
#14. Kentucky
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 16,065 (1,606.5 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 910
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Democratic Republic of the Congo (3,621), Burma (3,522), Bhutan (2,209)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Louisville (9,187), Bowling Green (3,352), Lexington (2,309)
Often, older refugees have a much harder time acclimating and adjusting to their new lives after fleeing their home countries. Highland Methodist Church in Louisville is looking to change that. One of the few organizations in the country aimed at helping older refugees specifically, the church does everything from teaching them English to making sure they're getting enough food and preparing them for the citizenship exam.
#13. Minnesota
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 17,941 (1,794.1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 537
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Somalia (6,608), Burma (6,539), Bhutan (1,040)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Minneapolis (6,592), Saint Paul (5,803), Saint Cloud (1,474)
In 2018 Minnesota had the highest number of refugees per capita. While the state held only 2% of the country's population, it held 13% of the refugee population. It's a designation that may change, as the state has seen fewer refugees admitted this fiscal year than any other year in recent history.
#12. Illinois
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 20,391 (2,039.1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 617
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (5,717), Burma (5,487), Bhutan (2,136)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Chicago (10,159), Rockford (2,327), Wheaton (1,402)
In 2017 the Chicago Tribune reported that more than 40% of the refugees who had settled in Illinois since 2002 had been from the seven, Muslim-majority countries named in President Trump's travel ban. Refugees from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen had been relocated to Chicago and its surrounding suburbs of Rockford, Wheaton, Aurora, and Skokie without incident. The travel ban will have a significant impact on the makeup of these neighborhoods if it continues to hold up.
#11. North Carolina
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 20,910 (2,091. per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 840
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (6,217), Democratic Republic of the Congo (3,146), Bhutan (3,017)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Charlotte (5,132), Raleigh (3,568), Greensboro (3,263)
Another large population of Karen people from Burma lies in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle. Nearly 3,000 Karen reside there, many of them refugees, along with a smaller number of other Burmese ethnic groups. The community centers on Transplanting Traditions, a community farm that grows many of the country's native crops and provides refugees with a haven for the culture they were forced to leave behind.
#10. Georgia
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 23,217 (2,321.7 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 818
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (6,281), Bhutan (4,643), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,802)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Atlanta (11,504), Clarkston (4,237), Decatur (2,837)
In 2018 the Today Show ran a profile of Clarkston—a town with 13,000 residents, 31.8% of whom were not born in the United States. Dubbed “Ellis Island of the South,” the city is home to refugees of 40 nationalities who speak 60 languages, and all live within the town's 1.4 square mile border. The Today Show called Clarkston “a shining example of how a diverse group of people can live together and make it work.”
#9. Pennsylvania
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 23,336 (2,333.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 641
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Bhutan (9,514), Burma (2,784), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,709)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Philadelphia (5,500), Erie (5,482), Lancaster (3,886)
BBC News reported, in 2017, that the city of Lancaster took in 20 times more refugees per capita than any other city in the United States. While the number has dropped sharply in the two years since the report thanks to federal policies, Lancaster remains committed to welcoming as many as they can.
#8. Washington
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 23,542 (2,354.2 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 1,014
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Ukraine (4,895), Iraq (3,917), Burma (3,519)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Seattle (7,304), Kent (4,310), Spokane (3,654)
In the middle of 2018, Ukranian Weekly reported that there were 1 million Ukrainians (defined as those who listed Ukranian as their only, first, or second ancestry) living in the United States. Fleeing war, persecution, and political instability, 60,200 of them had resettled in Washington state, marking the fifth highest concentration in the country.
#7. Ohio
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 23,840 (2,384. per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 877
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Bhutan (8,996), Somalia (3,290), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,938)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Columbus (9,509), Akron (4,149), Cleveland (3,429)
In 2018, amidst other states shutting down their refugee resettlement organizations, Gov. John Kasich unveiled new initiatives designed to help refugees and immigrants integrate into the community more successfully. In recognition of the value these new Americans bring to the Buckeye State, Kasich said that he felt he was duty-bound to help these people have a better life. The initiatives will provide resources like support groups and health services as well as things like self-defense classes and fun activities for children.
#6. Florida
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 24,691 (2,469.1 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 441
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Cuba (11,598), Burma (3,214), Iraq (2,400)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Jacksonville (5,947), Miami (4,537), Tampa (4,167)
Historically, Florida has accepted many refugees from places like Cuba and Iraq, but there seems to be a new trend in those pouring into the southern part of the state. A wave of Guatemalan refugees fleeing climate change and faced with its dangerous side effects like starvation are trekking to the border and applying for asylum, often ending up in places like Lake Worth.
#5. Arizona
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 25,056 (2,505.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 748
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (5,724), Democratic Republic of the Congo (4,854), Somalia (3,608)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Phoenix (13,041), Tucson (6,918), Glendale (4,177)
In 2017, Mukhtar Sheikh, the program coordinator for the Somali Association of Arizona, told the Phoenix New Times that it is estimated that as many as half of the Somali refugees that are initially settled in Arizona leave for other places, like Minnesota, because they are unable to find jobs. Experts on the situation suggest that Arizona needs to do more to help support and acclimate these refugees, financially and otherwise, and that merely opening the door is not enough. The current situation, they say, sets refugees up to fail and nearly forces them to become a drain on society.
#4. Michigan
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 29,188 (2,918.8 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 700
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (15,519), Burma (3,645), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,581)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Grand Rapids (5,734), Lansing (4,622), Southfield (4,231)
Like every other state in the country, Michigan has seen a decline in the number of refugees settling in the state, with one exception. Grand Rapids has become a hub for Congolese refugees and is often considered the #1 place for these immigrants. All said it is thought that Grand Rapids is home to 8,000 Congolese refugees and is home to 11 Congolese churches.
#3. New York
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 34,276 (3,427.6 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 1,156
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (9,291), Bhutan (6,283), Somalia (4,306)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Buffalo (11,062), Syracuse (8,006), Rochester (5,162)
While New York City has a reputation as the country's biggest melting pot, it's upstate New York that welcomes more refugees. The declining number of new arrivals has hurt cities like Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester as these places have come to count on these individuals as vital members of the workforce and their dollars as key drivers of the economy.
#2. California
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 52,465 (5,246.5 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 1,078
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Iraq (20,366), Iran (12,930), Ukraine (2,924)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: San Diego (11,893), El Cajon (7,524), Glendale (6,753)
One of the largest Syrian refugee communities in the United States is in Southern California near San Diego. Community volunteers in the area say that “Syrian refugees struggle disproportionately with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression because of their exposure to extreme violence and anxiety about relatives still in Syria.” So they're calling for more funding, more volunteers, and better services to help these refugees adjust to their new way of life and get the fresh start they deserve.
#1. Texas
- Total refugees admitted from 2010 to 2019: 57,557 (5,755.7 per year)
- Refugees admitted to date for 2019 fiscal year: 1,648
- Top countries of origin for admitted refugees: Burma (17,156), Iraq (11,828), Democratic Republic of the Congo (7,075)
- Top cities where admitted refugees settle: Houston (15,994), Dallas (11,903), Fort Worth (8,844)
Welcoming more refugees than any other state in the union, Texas also gets the most money in Refugee Social Services funding—$9.18 million in 2017. In 2016, 4,000 refugees, a little less than half of the state's total, settled in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, making it one of the metropolitan areas with the most refugee residents nationwide.
