One Million Immigrants Found Help at IINJ


Photo courtesy: IINJ.Org

by Prathaa Magar, NJ

Jersey City, NJ, December 13, 2007- The International Institute of New Jersey (IINJ) a non-profit organization, under the umbrella of the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, which helps immigrants and refugees integrate into communities in New Jersey held its annual meeting at the Jersey City Museum. Over the past 90 years, the institute has helped nearly one million people.

Each year the IINJ holds an Annual Meeting which highlights the people they serve and the comprehensive approach they use in working with immigrants.  This year IINJ asked three Chadians who arrived as refugees two years ago – alone and frightened-to speak in English about their experiences.

In her welcome address, Catherine Tansey, Executive Director, IINJ said-

 “Can you imagine stepping off a plane into a new location?  You have lived all your life with your family in a warm sunny climate where the temperature averages 82 degrees or higher.    You have left your family and your friends behind.   You arrive only with the clothes on your back.    You are fleeing a terrifying or dangerous situation at home and you are running into the unknown, not knowing exactly what will happen to you.  You cannot communicate with your friends or family because you don’t know where they are now or, because they may suffer reprisals if you try to communicate with them.”

Photo courtesy: IINJ.Org

She further said- “This is the situation of many clients who walk through the doors of the Institute.  We greet each new arrival with compassion and a strong desire to help.   We handle their survival needs first.

Listen to their stories, their needs and their concerns
Find them housing and warm clothes if necessary
Clarify their legal status
Translate their documents
Teach them English
Teach them how to write a resume
Help them find a job
Help them with medical emergencies

So that within 2 years, these new immigrants begin to feel more comfortable here and they can retain their self-respect and continue building their lives.”

Three young Chadians, one as young as 17, travelled to the U.S. two years ago.  They told their stories at the Annual Meeting by talking about Chad, the situation they left behind, and their new situation.

Since 2005 the International Institute has worked with nearly 50 refugees from Chad.  These refugees are fleeing the war which is going on between their government and the government in Sudan and between rebels and the national government in the capital of N’Djamena.  Or, their families, or themselves may have been part of the opposition to the national government.

The hardest part of the journey for these refugees is not the fact that they are running towards an unknown country; it is not that they have to rebuild their lives.  Most of these refugees are young and they have the energy to learn a new language, finish their education or look for work.  The most difficult challenge for these refugees is feeling alone here, separated from their families and not being able to communicate with their families because of the fear of reprisals against them in Chad.  Despite this loss, they have succeeded in such a short time here.  One is working for  U.S. Immigration at a nearby airport, another is attending a community college to finish his education and the third is working as an intern at the institute’s Law Center as well as studying for an undergraduate degree.   The Chadians recognize that they are not alone in their journey to build new lives in a foreign land.  They appreciate the help they have received from the Institute and from many others here.   They pray that violence, persecution and wars might end and that all displaced persons can return home one day.