Refugee Congress is a national nonpartisan organization built and led by refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people to promote the well-being and dignity of all forcibly displaced people.

Refugee Congress was established in 2011 when UNHCR brought together former refugees and asylum seekers from across the US (called “Delegates”) for a convening focused on ensuring refugee and asylee input in planning and programming impacting our communities. Two years later, UNHCR organized another convening.

As conversations evolved, Delegates to the Congress raised awareness of the critical need for refugees – the primary stakeholders - to be at the table for all decision-making conversations. Establishing a permanent Refugee Congress was born, and we have been growing ever since.

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