Less than 1% of refugees worldwide resettle in places like the United States. Refugees must go through a lengthy and secure vetting process conducted by multiple intelligence agencies. Once approved, refugees sign a travel loan agreeing to pay back the cost of their plane ticket and are assigned to a local resettlement agency. 

Resettlement agencies meet refugees at the airport and help with basic needs for up to 90 days. Refugees are authorized to work and are expected to find immediate employment and education.

After one year of living in the U.S., refugees are required to apply to become permanent residents.  After five years, they are eligible to apply for citizenship. 

In the last two decades, refugees from Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Nepal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and the Ukraine have resettled in cities across the United States.

The state of Nebraska has some of the highest rates of refugees due to the relatively low cost of living, the availability of meat packing plants and family members already living here.