In the last fiscal year,  8,019 refugees and refugee-eligible individuals were welcomed into Nevada. Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada is recognized on the federal level as the Nevada Office of Refugees, in addition to this, our agency is one of three local agencies to carry out resettlement services in the state of Nevada: Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, ECDC African Community Center and Northern Nevada International Center.

Catholic Charities’ Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) helps refugees from all over the world rebuild their lives after they have been forced to leave their families, homes, and countries behind because of racial, religious, or political persecution, often fleeing for their life. Our goal is to help refugees become self-sufficient and lead independent lives as quickly as possible.

We serve refugees and other refugee-eligible populations such as: Asylees, Cuban Entrants, certified Victims of Trafficking, and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders from Iraq and Afghanistan. We provide ongoing assistance to refugees for their first 5 years in starting their new life in America, eventually helping them become American citizens.

MRS Provides Service Such As:

• Food, shelter and clothing
• Health services
• Cultural orientation
• Case management
• Employment services
• Education
• Citizenship classes

Did You Know?

• During the last fiscal year:
  71% of the people we assisted come from Cuba
• The top five nationalities that we currently welcome come from:
  Cuba, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and Guatemala
• More than half of them are women and children

Definition of a Refugee

• Under U.S. law, a refugee is defined as one who is forced to flee their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of being persecuted on account of their nationality, race, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The refugees in the resettlement program must go through an extensive vetting and screening process with the U.S. government before they are approved for arrival on American soil. All of these individuals have legal status to be present in the United States.

Get Involved

Our Migration and Refugee Services program needs support in the following ways:

• If you would like to make a monetary donation towards our general resettlement needs, click here
• Become a Youth Mentor to assist refugee youth ages 15-24 – to learn more here
• Let us know if you have any rental property contacts to assist with housing needs

We are grateful for your willingness to support our clients as they work to start a new life here in Southern Nevada.