USCRI Des Moines

USCRI Des Moines Refugees, immigrants, and uprooted people will live dignified lives with their rights respected and protected in communities of opportunity. The U.S.

Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) is a private non-profit that has served refugees and immigrants across the country since 1911. USCRI’s Des Moines Field Office (USCRI Des Moines) has been bringing hope and opportunity to Iowa’s newest community members since 2010. USCRI Des Moines has welcomed over 4,000 refugees from around the world to Central Iowa. Refugees resettled in Des Moines

come primarily from Afghanistan, Bhutan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Burma, Sudan, Somalia and Syria. Newly arrived refugees receive comprehensive services including housing placement, cultural orientation, school enrollment, healthcare coordination, and employment preparation and placement. Additional services offered at USCRI Des Moines include pro- and low-bono immigration legal services through the Legal Services Program, extended healthcare case management through the Refugee Wellness Program, and relationship enhancement skills for youth through READY4Life.

09/02/2026

The stars have spoken! Watch the full video + see which piece of legislation you should champion based on your star sign!

♎ Libra: GRACE Act
Sponsored by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Zoe Lofgren
♏ Scorpio: GLOBE Act
Sponsored by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Dina Titus
♐ Sagittarius: Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act
Sponsored by Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Pramila Jayapal
♑ Capricorn: Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act
Sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins
♒ Aquarius: Community-Based Refugee Reception Act
Sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy
♓ Pisces: Dream Act
Sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin

At USCRI, we believe in the power of young people to build their futures, pursue their goals, and make a meaningful impa...
09/01/2026

At USCRI, we believe in the power of young people to build their futures, pursue their goals, and make a meaningful impact in their communities. Through the Habesha Project, we help make those opportunities possible.

As the new school year begins, we’re excited to introduce a few more of this year’s Habesha Project students! Through academic scholarships, flights and living support, Spanish classes, health insurance, legal assistance, and more, the program helps refugees and displaced young people pursue higher education in Mexico and build toward what comes next.

Learn more about the Habesha Project and this impact at refugees.org/uscri-latam/

Five years after the fall of Kabul, America’s promise to our Afghan allies remains unfinished.In 2021, the United States...
08/31/2026

Five years after the fall of Kabul, America’s promise to our Afghan allies remains unfinished.

In 2021, the United States created pathways for evacuation, humanitarian parole, family reunification, visa processing, and temporary protection. Yet today, too many Afghans remain separated from their families, in hiding, or waiting in legal limbo for the permanent safety they were promised.

In a new op-ed, USCRI’s Sara Lowry of Humanitarian Legal Services reflects on the commitments made five years ago and the work that still must be done.

Read the full op-ed at https://bit.ly/3Uozgyc

08/28/2026

Immigration Explained. TPS Edition. ✏️🗽

What does TPS mean? Who does it affect? What qualifies someone for TPS? And who decides which countries receive this designation?

We’re breaking it all down in today’s video!

Share this with a friend who wants to stay informed, and comment below with the immigration term we should explain next! ⬇️

08/27/2026

A huge thank you to Central Presbyterian Church of Des Moines for their generous donation of Walmart gift cards! Your support is making a real difference for our clients.

With recent SNAP cuts, we are asking for additional Walmart gift card donations to ensure that our clients continue to have access to food. If you are able to help, please drop off Walmart gift cards today, if possible. We have many families in temporary housing that are running low on supplies, and we would like to get them through this weekend. If you aren't able to get them in today, we will still gratefully accept them next week as well.

Thank you for helping us make sure our clients have the support they need!

**please stick to Walmart gift card in $25 amounts

For refugee girls in Kenya, access to menstrual health supplies can mean the difference between missing school and conti...
08/27/2026

For refugee girls in Kenya, access to menstrual health supplies can mean the difference between missing school and continuing to learn, grow, and dream.

Through Dream Keepers, supporters are helping girls access the essential supplies and support they need to stay in school and build toward their futures. 💙

Make a difference. Become a dream keeper today: https://bit.ly/43vHrda

08/26/2026

Happy D.C. Restaurant Week!

To celebrate the D.C. and greater DMV food scene is to celebrate the immigrants who helped build it. This Restaurant Week, trying somewhere new can mean more than discovering a new favorite meal. It can also mean supporting the immigrant entrepreneurs, families, and communities that have helped make the DMV taste like home to people from around the world.

See our full list of immigrant-owned restaurants and learn more about the people and stories behind these places at https://bit.ly/4gDVHXH

Today is Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day.In honor of August 25, we’re sharing an op-ed from Yasin Arfat, who fled Myan...
08/25/2026

Today is Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day.

In honor of August 25, we’re sharing an op-ed from Yasin Arfat, who fled Myanmar in 2017 and spent five years living in a refugee camp before resettling in the United States. Since resettling, Yasin has become a powerful advocate for refugees, meeting with U.S. policymakers to call for stronger refugee resettlement programs, humanitarian assistance, and protections for displaced communities.

Today, Yasin reflects on his own journey and reminds us why the world must continue to stand with the Rohingya people.
Hear his story at: https://bit.ly/4gk0pee

Last month, USCRI Dallas hosted a professional clothing drive, where nearly 200 refugees and community members were able...
08/24/2026

Last month, USCRI Dallas hosted a professional clothing drive, where nearly 200 refugees and community members were able to shop for what's next: entering the workforce.

Thanks to generous donors, $13,775 worth of clothing, shoes, and accessories were donated to help clients feel prepared and confident as they take their next steps. A huge thank you to everyone who donated and helped make the day possible!

Learn more about the event and how you can support programs like this at https://bit.ly/4giFUyA

Each month, we break down key court decisions, policy changes, and legal developments affecting immigrants, refugees, an...
08/21/2026

Each month, we break down key court decisions, policy changes, and legal developments affecting immigrants, refugees, and the communities that serve them.

The Legal Landscape gives you the context you need to understand a changing immigration system, without the legal jargon.

Stay informed on the issues that matter. Learn more + sign up at https://bit.ly/4bZrhxo

Address

1200 University Avenue, Ste 205
Des Moines, IA
50314

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15155287525

Website

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