Since its founding, WARM has served refugees. A refugee is someone who has fled their country to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and have sought safety in another country. Refugees are unable to return to their home country because of a credible fear of danger. Many refugees flee with very little; they leave their homes, possessions, status, jobs, and are sometimes forced to leave family members. They have often experienced immense trauma, been injured during their flight, suffered human rights violations or seen family members killed or attacked.

Refugees are in the United States legally. They have been invited, vetted, and promised support while they work toward stability for themselves and their families. They are one of the most thoroughly checked and documented segments of the population. Refugees are authorized to work in the United States. They are eligible to apply for their permanent residency (Green Card) after one year and citizenship after five years.

As of May 2024 there are more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, according to UNHCR. This is the highest level of displacement on record. Of these, 43.4 million have refugee status. 70% of the world's displaced people are women, and children under the age of 18. Children account for 30% of the world's population but 40% of displaced peoples. 339,000 babies are born as refugees every year.

Refugees have fled their country to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and have sought safety in another country. Refugees are unable to return to their home country because of a credible fear of danger. Asylum seekers are also seeking international protection from dangers in his or her home country, but whose claim for refugee status hasn’t been determined legally. Asylum seekers must apply for protection in the country of destination—meaning they must arrive at or cross a border in order to apply. Migrants are people who make a conscious decision to leave their countries to seek a better life elsewhere. Though WARM works with refugees, we acknowledge the sanctity and personal dignity of every human who is seeking safety, as well as the fact that seeking asylum is a human right as set by the International Humanitarian Law of 1951, which was adopted by the United States.

Fact: Refugees are forced to flee their homes to escape war, violence and persecution. They were often forced to make the difficult decision to leave behind the lives they once knew—often spending several years in refugee camps or settlements, not knowing what the future holds.

Fact: Resettled refugees contribute to the economy as taxpayers and earners, and have higher rates of entrepreneurship than other immigrants. In addition, refugees fuel the economy through consumer spending. In 2022, refugees held a spending power of nearly $82 billion. Additionally, refugees are more likely to be entrepreneurs and job-creators. 13 % of refugees in the U.S. create businesses—a higher percentage than all immigrants (11%) or of the native-born U.S. population (9%).

Fact: Before coming to the US, refugees go through an intense eleven step vetting process that often takes years to complete. This includes security clearance, an in-person interview, Department of Homeland Security approval, a medical screen, a second security approval, and six more steps! This process is among the most thorough in the world.

WARM is not a resettlement agency and we do not receive state or federal funding for our welcoming work. We partner with other refugee-serving agencies and organizations, filling in the gaps and providing essential programs to help refugees thrive. Resettlement agencies are contracted by the government to resettle newly arrived refugee families and get them connected with the services they need. These agencies have had their funding cut and many of them have laid off staff, including caseworkers, who are often a refugee's first contact in America. As agencies have had their federal funding eliminated, more and more refugees are being left without the help that they were promised. They need assistance finding jobs and apartments, and are vulnerable to being put into unsafe and unsustainable temporary housing situations. WARM steps into these gaps and provides crucial services and assistance that are more needed now than ever.

You can can advocate for refugees in your community by contacting your local congress representatives and to voice your support for compassionate and humane policies. Express your desire to see refugees cared for and welcomed. Go to congress.gov to find out how to contact your local representatives.

Like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram, sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming opportunities and trainings. If you would like to get your church or small group involved, we would love to hear from you! Contact us, or see our volunteer page for more details.

We encourage you to involve your family in refugee outreach. This is a great learning experience for your kids, and many of the refugees we interact with have children of their own. See our volunteer page for more details.

Pray: For just laws to be upheld, for vulnerable refugees to be protected, for separated families to be reunited. Volunteer: Help refugees who are in our cities. Be a friend, a mentor, or an advocate. Give: WARM's welcoming work needs the support and generosity of the whole community!