Celebrating World Refugee Day

Since 2009, the number of refugee arrivals in Massachusetts each year has averaged between 1,400 and 1,900 according to Boston Indicators. Boston and Massachusetts have become home to refugees who have made significant contributions, including those who are Vietnamese, Cambodian, Iraqi, Bhutanese, Burmese, Somalian, Congolese, Syrian, Ukrainian, and much more.



This week, the Council adopted a resolution, celebrating the contributions of refugees who have made a home in this City, and recognized June 20, 2020, as World Refugee Day.



Every minute, 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror, environmental disasters, and forcibly displaced persons become refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless persons, and returnees.



The City of Boston’s Office of Immigrant Advancement is committed to addressing the concerns and needs of the City’s immigrant and refugee communities. Boston has extended its policy as a Sanctuary City and passed the Safe Communities Act in 2019 which aims to restore community trust in public institutions by avoiding entanglement in immigration matters, and protect due process for all.



The City of Boston, Commonwealth, and community organizations are committed to providing direct services to help refugee communities transition from insecurity to stability through the provision of English classes, citizenship classes, job training, legal services and more.