Elizabeth, NJ

Last year, the IRC in NJ supported over 7,000 refugees, humanitarian parolees, Special Immigrant Visa Holders (SIVs), unaccompanied children, immigrants, asylees and asylum seekers through a holistic set of services. 

Our clients are often fleeing violence and persecution -- in Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Haiti, Afghanistan and other countries in crisis. They come to the United States seeking freedom, safety and opportunity. 

Learn more about refugees and asylum seekers arriving to the United States. 

Refugees, asylees and immigrants play a vital role in shaping New Jersey, enriching it with their diverse skills, cultures, and experiences.

Here's how: 

• Share Cultures, Languages and Skills: Refugees, asylees and immigrants bring diverse traditions, languages, and perspectives, enriching New Jersey’s cultural landscape and fostering cross-cultural understanding. They also offer valuable skills that help strengthen the community. 
• Build Careers: Refugees, asylees and immigrants contribute to New Jersey’s workforce in various industries, from healthcare to technology, helping drive innovation and supporting the city's economy. 
• Start Businesses: Many refugees, asylees and immigrants become entrepreneurs, starting businesses that create jobs and diversify the local economy, reflecting a mix of cultures and traditions. 
• Pay Taxes: Through their work, refugees, asylees and immigrants pay taxes that fund essential public services and infrastructure, contributing to the overall prosperity of the city. 
• Become Citizens: Individuals who become U.S. citizens actively participate in civic life, helping to shape New Jersey’s future and strengthen its democratic values. 

While all of our programs provide crucial support to our clients, there are three key areas where funding gaps have become urgent, especially in the face of an ever-changing political environment.  

• Immigration Legal Needs 
• Crisis Management 
• Workforce Development 

Please consider donating to our emergency fund to support these three areas.  

Learn more about these key prioritieshere. 

Our programs are designed to ensure refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers thrive in America—ensuring children are enrolled in school, adults become self-reliant through employment or starting businesses, and families receive acute medical care they need to recover from trauma or illness. The IRC helps those in need to feel safe and welcome in their new communities. 

• Basic Needs: We provide essential services to ensure all clients have access to the resources they need for a stable and healthy life. This includes health services, assistance with public benefits enrollment and housing support. 
• Refugee Cash Assistance: We help administer monthly monetary assistance to ORR-eligible populations for a set period of time, as they settle into their new lives. 
• Workforce Development: Our Economic Empowerment department provides both immediate assistance in accessing entry-level positions and long-term support for people to get recertified in their chosen career fields. 
• Mental Health Supportive Services: These include mental health screenings, individualized therapy, referrals to mental health providers, and community adjustment support groups. 
• Educational Support: We offer a range of programs to support both adults and youth in achieving educational success, including ESOL classes, digital literacy training, school enrollments, and more. Our Newcomer Youth Summer Academy, a 3-week program held each summer, helps young students prepare for the upcoming school year by offering academic enrichment and support. 
• Legal Support: Our Immigration team provides high-quality, low-cost immigration legal services, filing applications and petitions for adjustment of status, work authorization, temporary protected status, family reunification and naturalization applications.  
• Community Support: For clients who need additional support, the IRC in NJ facilitates referrals to local service providers and provides clear and translated resource materials such as Know Your Rights cards, handouts with guidance on how to access public benefits, and links to videos and online resources 

We would not be able to provide the crucial services we do without your support.  

There are many ways that you can get involved with the IRC’s work in New Jersey. You can: 

• Donate to our Emergency Fund: The NY & NJ Emergency Fund, named the Robert P. DeVecchi Emergency Fund in honor of the former IRC president, is dedicated to addressing the acute needs of refugees and immigrants. Click here to donate. 
• Fundraise for the IRC in New Jersey:  Create your own DIY peer fundraiser to engage and involve your community with raising funds for the IRC in New Jersey.  

• Volunteer or Intern: The IRC in NJ seeks volunteers and interns to provide assistance in translations and interpretation, English language education, housing support, case management, and more within our various departments. Contact Milagros.Cruz@rescue.org if you’d like to hear more about our volunteer and internship opportunities.  
  • The IRC in NJ is recruiting volunteer youth tutors! Learn more and apply here. 

• Advocate: Call and write letters to New Jersey stakeholders and elected leaders, urging them to take action to protect and welcome refugees and other newcomers affected by humanitarian crises. 
• Stay Connected: Subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us on Facebook to stay informed on how we are supporting New Jersey’s newcomer community, hear client success stories, and learn more about our fundraising needs!  

For a comprehensive list of ways you can get involved, read here