LSS of South Dakota’s vision is that all people in South Dakota will be healthy, safe and accepted. Since 1948, part of that important work has been welcoming refugees into our state and assisting them with integration into their new community.
The refugee resettlement program is a federal program led by the President, the State Department and the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. One of the first actions taken by the new Trump administration was the temporary suspension of the refugee resettlement program in the United States. On Friday, January 24, 2025, a stop work order was issued, instructing all resettlement agencies— including LSS—to halt any efforts related to welcoming new refugee arrivals to South Dakota.
While we are not able to welcome most new refugees for the foreseeable future, our work with refugees does not end with their initial arrival. Provided that federal funding remains uninterrupted, our team at the LSS Center for New Americans continues to provide ongoing support to refugees for up to five years post-arrival, helping individuals and families build stability, find employment and move toward self-sufficiency.
And that work is taking place at record levels, as more people than ever are seeking services such as English language classes, citizenship classes, immigration legal services, employment services and workforce training. In the past year, the Center for New Americans’ education program has served more than 1,000 people, ranging in age from 18 to 97 years and from 71 different countries. These educational opportunities are vital to ensuring refugees and immigrants currently living in South Dakota have the support they need to navigate this uncertain time and remain protected from any additional vulnerability based on status and employment. Our clients are eligible for these services for five years after they arrive in the United States.
In fiscal year 2024, LSS assisted 132 people to become new citizens of the United States. In fiscal year 2025, LSS helped 184 people apply for citizenship, 202 apply for their permanent residency and 181 apply for work permits. We also helped 415 new arrivals to find employment at their first job in the United States in the last fiscal year.
LSS remains committed to providing support and welcome to ensure a successful start in South Dakota for our refugee and immigrant populations.
