Twin Falls

The USCRI refugee resettlement center was established in the early 1980s under the bipartisan Refugee Act of 1980. The Senate voted unanimously for this bill to respond to the needs of victims of persecution, creating a pathway for them to become Americans.

At the Twin Falls center, newly arrived refugees receive a comprehensive set of services including housing placement, cultural orientation, school enrollment, coordination of initial health appointments, referrals to ESL classes, and employment preparation and placement.

In their first 10 years in the U.S., refugees increase their earnings by 70%. After 20 years, their average household income is $71,400, which is $4,300 more than the national average.

The average immigrant pays $200,000 more in taxes over time than they initially receive in benefits. Refugees bring various skills with them—like engineering, medicine, and education—and from 2013 to 2023, over 600 employers in Idaho hired these talented, hard-working people. Refugees start new businesses at a higher rate (13%) than U.S.-born individuals (9%).

Most are multilingual; 83% of refugees speak English upon arrival or within a year, rising to 92% in 10 years. After 10 years, 28% of refugees have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 26.5% of U.S.-born individuals. Over 70% of refugees earn citizenship within 10 years of arrival, increasing to almost 90% after 20 years.