A group of 36 refugees from Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan left Malta yesterday to begin a new life in the United States.
Since the US Embassy began its permanent refugee resettlement programme in May 2008, more than 410 refugees who were in Malta have been resettled.
Yesterday’s group will be resettled in cities across the United States, including Boston, Denver, Seattle, Atlanta and Kentucky.
Commenting on the group’s departure, Ambassador Douglas Kmiec said:
“America is a land of opportunity whose identity has been forged by generations of immigrants, and I am certain that each refugee will find a bright future there as they become a part of our unique and diverse society.
“Nothing has made me more proud as ambassador to Malta than to help those refugees most in need, while also assisting the people of Malta to handle the challenges posed by migration in a compassionate and humanitarian way.”
Once they arrive in the US, each refugee will be assigned a sponsor agency that provides initial services such as housing, food, and clothing, as well as referral to medical care, employment services, and other support during a transition period lasting up to two years. This is done to ensure integration and assimilation.