The International Rescue Committee is one of the leading providers of services for refugees, asylees and asylum seekers, victims of trafficking and other vulnerable immigrants in the United States. Across the country, each year, the IRC serves hundreds of thousands of individuals with an array of services aimed at helping them to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.

We measure our progress on this mission by assessing improvements in the long-term outcomes of the women, men, girls and boys that we serve—their health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and empowerment. We want to achieve our goal while we deliver the greatest impact for the most people at the lowest cost, and so are committed to constantly strengthening the effectiveness of our programs, responsiveness to clients and communities, and to reach more people with timely evidence-based assistance.

Across our U.S. offices, the IRC offers the following programs:

Resettlement

The United States has a long tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing persecution and war. In 2015, the International Rescue Committee helped resettle nearly 10,000 newly arrived refugees and provided services to promote self-reliance and integration to over 36,000 refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking and other immigrants. IRC staff members and volunteers believe that refugees’ greatest resources are themselves. We help them translate their skills, interests and past experiences into assets that are valuable in their new communities.

Legal services

The IRC offers legal services to thousands of refugees and immigrants each year across the U.S. Our services range from legal consultations and group know your rights clinics that meet legal needs at scale, to representation of children and adults with complex cases in removal proceedings, which can stretch out over five years or more. We advocate for due process and more efficient and effective processing of immigration applications. Our comprehensive legal services are provided by immigration lawyers and trained staff who have been accredited by the US Department of Justice.

IRC US legal services programs help clients pursue legal relief and benefits across 7 key program areas:

Anti-trafficking

Trafficking in persons—also known as "human trafficking"—is a form of modern-day slavery. Anywhere from 700,000 to 4 million persons worldwide are trafficked across or within national borders every year. The International Rescue Committee’s anti-trafficking programs strive to provide timely, high-quality, comprehensive services to survivors of human trafficking. The IRC also works to improve the community response to survivors of trafficking by providing training to local service providers and allied professionals and working to enhance collaboration and coordination among multi-disciplinary professionals on behalf of survivors of human trafficking. The IRC’s goal is to help survivors build lives for themselves that are free from abuse and exploitation.

Economic Empowerment

The IRC’s economic empowerment programs support low-income individuals and families—including refugees and immigrants—in building financial stability and long-term mobility across the U.S. and Europe. These services are designed to help clients enter and advance in the workforce, strengthen financial well-being, pursue education and entrepreneurship, and access the resources they need to thrive.

IRC’s workforce development programs help clients secure employment and grow their careers through vocational English instruction, digital skills training, job placement, and sector-specific training in high-demand industries. Partnerships with employers provide opportunities for on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and career advancement, supporting clients in moving beyond entry-level roles toward long-term economic stability.

Financial capability services empower families through financial education, coaching, and tax preparation. Clients receive support in setting financial goals, building assets, and improving credit. These services are complemented by access to affordable loan products—including credit-building, auto, education, and small business loans—offered through IRC’s certified Community Development Financial Institution.

For clients interested in entrepreneurship, IRC’s small business development services provide training, one-on-one technical assistance, and access to capital. These programs help individuals start and grow businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the economic vitality of their communities.

Across all services, IRC uses data to inform program improvements and share insights with partners, funders, and policymakers—ensuring services remain responsive, effective, and aligned with client needs.

IRC's Center for Economic Opportunity

To better serve the clients enrolled in Economic Empowerment, Career Development, and Microenterprise programs, the IRC launched a consumer lending pilot program in San Diego and Phoenix, which made it possible for clients to build credit, buy cars, start businesses, and finance job training. Based on the success of that program, the IRC established IRC's Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) to expand the model across the United States. Since making its first loan in 2015 as a certified CDFI Loan Fund and non-controlled subsidiary of the IRC, CEO has made more than 10,000 loans totaling more than $40 million in financing across the network of IRC resettlement offices and other community partners. CEO offers clients a range of affordable financial products, including credit-building, auto, and business loans, all which complement programming hosted by the IRC.

Health, safety & wellbeing

Health education

The IRC US Programs offices offer a variety of health programming for clients, which differs by location. Programs focus on health promotion and education, outreach to medical providers and targeted assistance for pre- and post-natal clients, as well as food security and nutrition.

Women & girls

The IRC's US Programs work toward a vision that refugee and immigrant women and girls in the US are safe, healthy, educated, economically well, and have power to contribute to a society where they are valued, have equal access to opportunity, and live free from violence. USP's WPE work focuses on reducing and responding to violence against women and gender inequality, so that women and girls not only live free from violence, but are also empowered to fully engage in personal, civic, social, and economic opportunities in the US.

Mental health

Mental health is a crucial component of well-being for the client population at the IRC. All refugees have endured stressful circumstances and most experienced and/or witnessed distressing events. The IRC has a number of programs that promote well-being across the United States and offer refugees the tools to cope with and thrive in their new environment, through clinical and non-clinical services. These programs work to strengthen the emotional health of refugees through regular emotional well-being assessments and culturally appropriate support services. IRC mental health and wellness programs seek to highlight and promote dynamic, strengths-based, and client-centered approaches to service delivery. Staff affirm and respect the diversity of experience and perspectives by embracing, acknowledging and exploring the client’s perspective of their situation and potential solutions.

New Roots: Food & Agriculture

The ‘New Roots’ food and agriculture program emerged from the strong farming and food cultures of refugees and other new immigrants. Since 2008, New Roots programs have uplifted health, economic mobility, and belonging through gardens, farms, markets, and nutrition outreach.

Programs include food access education and distributions, gardening for home consumption, local food markets, farm business support, job readiness training, youth development, and public events linked to food and agricultural heritage.

Through gardens, farms, and markets, New Roots gives people the tools, resources, and training to grow healthy produce, provide affordable food to their neighbors, and support community wellness. In addition, farm-based training programs help people to rebuild livelihoods and youth to open doors through learning and practicing transferable skills and linking with professional contacts and gainful employment opportunities.  

Beyond food production, New Roots spaces are platforms for community food access and connection. Many sites operate food education and free food distributions, and others host public events to create safe and welcoming opportunities for new immigrants to connect with their neighbors, promoting mental and physical wellbeing and a sense of place.

Youth services

The US Programs network offers comprehensive, diverse programming for refugee youth across the US. The goal is to provide the educational and developmental opportunities that build the essential academic, personal and social skills that kids need to succeed.

The services provided vary by office, and include:

Capacity Building

RAI is a nationally recognized leader in capacity building, helping to transform community systems through training and technical assistance. RAI supports frontline workers, teachers, doctors, city officials, and community members across the U.S. so they can confidently welcome newcomers and provide informed, accessible, and impactful services. Key projects include: