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Afghan Arrivals: How you can help

Refugee Empowerment Center will resettle 415 Afghan Refugees before February 15

More than 900 Afghans are resettling in Nebraska. 

Over 50,000 people have been forced to evacuate from Afghanistan and resettle into a new home. Refugee Empowerment Center will resettle 415 Afghans between October 2021 and March 2022.

The US government has authorized allies arriving with humanitarian parole to receive refugee resettlement benefits where they will be able to apply for employment authorization documents through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

All arrivals from Afghanistan are vetted before they arrive in the US, which includes rounds of biometric and biographic screening, and matching results with a variety of law enforcement and intelligence agency watchlists. The Departments of Homeland Security and Defense conduct vetting with intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from the FBI, National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and additional Intelligence Community partners.

Humanitarian Parole is granted for short-term urgent relief that gives the recipient official permission to enter into the US. These Afghan evacuees are eligible to apply for asylum through (USCIS). Some individuals granted humanitarian parole status include those who have contracted with the U.S. military or government but have not completed Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) processing before they had to flee their country.

Ways to help

Housing

Finding affordable and dignified housing is critical for Afghan families arriving in Nebraska. If you are intersted in renting to refugees, contact our Housing Specialist at christine@refugeeempowerment.org or visit our Renting to Refugees page here

Donate Household Items

We've partnered with Restoring Dignity to collect household items for arriving Afghan families. Visit rdomaha.org to purchase items from their Amazon wishlist and/or schedule a donation drop-off at their warehouse. Visit Restoring Dignity.

Make a donation

Financial donations make a BIG difference to REC. Make a one-time gift, or become a Refuge Member via recurring donations. Make a donation today.

Volunteer

We need volunteers to help with moving families into housing, teaching English classes, providing transportation, and more. Fill our our volunteer interest form here.