Kentucky Immigrants and Refugees - local background

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
– Emma Lazarus, As seen on the Statue of Liberty

Immigrants and refugees are our neighbors, friends, teachers and co-workers. 

Refugees in Kentucky
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Refugees come from Cuba, Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and more

72% were resettled in Louisville

Kentucky refugee resettlement program is managed by a nonprofit instead of the state government. The Kentucky Office for Refugees (KOR) serves as the state refugee coordinator’s office and administers federal funding from the Office of Refugee Resettlement for post-arrival services. This department is located within Catholic Charities of Louisville.

Immigrants in Kentucky

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Nearly 4 percent of Kentucky residents are immigrants, while nearly 3 percent are native-born U.S. citizens who have at least one immigrant parent.

• In 2015, 157,336 immigrants (foreign-born individuals) comprised 3.6 percent of the state’s population.
• Kentucky was home to 68,802 women, 70,300 men, and 18,234 children who were immigrants.
• The top countries of origin for immigrants were Mexico (19.2 percent of immigrants), India (6.9 percent), Cuba (5.1 percent), China (4.5 percent), and Guatemala (3.7 percent).
• In 2016, 115,969 people in Kentucky (2.7 percent of the state’s population) were native-born Americans who had at least one immigrant parent.

More than a third of immigrants in Kentucky are naturalized U.S. citizens.

• 58,196 immigrants (37 percent) had naturalized as of 2015, and 36,841 immigrants were eligible to become naturalized U.S. citizens in 2015.
• More than three-quarters of immigrants (78.2 percent) reported speaking English “well” or “very well.”

Immigrants in Kentucky are concentrated at both ends of the educational spectrum.

• More than a third of all adult immigrants had a college degree or more education in 2015, while one-quarter had less than a high school diploma. 

How Can You Help?

Below are some local resources that will allow you to volunteer, donate and/or advocate.

Are you, or do you know a Kentucky immigrant who needs an advocate?  

• Kentucky - Immigration Advocates and Legal Services
• Louisville Immigration and Legal Services

To volunteer, check out local agency web sites below or go to Volunteer Match. To donate, go to the agency’s website and click on the donation tab or button.

	Catholic Charities of Louisville is part of the largest, private human services network in the United States, serving people of all religious, ethnic, social and economic backgrounds. Through the Kentucky Office for Refugees (KOR) provides leadership; policy guidance and advocacy on specific issues affecting refugee resettlement. Migration Refuges Services (MRS) equips refugees with the support and assistance they need in order to become self-sufficient through services such as English, cultural and work orientation.
	Kentucky Refugee Ministries is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing resettlement services to refugees. They work with the refugees to help promote self-sufficiency and successful integration into our community.
	Americana Community Center is a non-profit organization, which provides a spectrum of services for the many diverse residents of Metro Louisville.  These services enable people to discover and utilize resources to build strong families, create a safe, supportive community, and realize their individual potential.
	La Casita Center enhances the well-being of Louisville's Latino community through education, empowerment, advocacy, and wellness. La Casita Center works intentionally to build a thriving community based on mutual support and respect.
	Global Louisville Action Plan works to enhance Multi-Culturalism. They assists in connecting immigrants and refugees to governmental and non-governmental resources.