Refugees

The local branch of U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants will help nine Afrikaners from two families resettle in Twin Falls. They are expecting their arrival in the coming days.

The first group of Afrikaners granted refugee status in the U.S. have arrived in the country. On Monday, the white descendants of mostly Dutch colonizers of South Africa flew into Washington DC on a chartered plane. Among them were two families headed to Idaho for resettlement.

The memo instructed the organizations to cease spending federal grant dollars meant to help refugees integrate into U.S. communities in their first three months.

President Elect Donald Trump’s promise to overhaul America’s immigration policies has many in the Idaho refugee population wondering what this means for their community.

“The feeling of freedom … the feeling of humanity. The feeling to be American person… to be proud of yourself.”

Learning about the birds that live in and around Boise gives young refugees a chance to find out more about their new home.

Over the last year, Idaho has become home to over 1,200 refugees fleeing war and persecution. Despite finding a safe harbor though, the resettlement process is not an easy one. Which is why programs like Artisans For Hope are working to support these new members of the community, starting with a needle and some thread.

A forum with Idahoans from refugee backgrounds who are contributing to Idaho’s vitality, diversity and economy.

Jane Chu is a New York-based illustrator and artist. She spent time as chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts and now she travels around the country to share stories of refugees and immigrants.

Jane Chu’s story is all-American, which is to say that her roots are extraordinarily varied.