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Explore the 2025 CRIS Annual Report

One of the many joyous elements of CRIS’ work is attending a naturalization ceremony, where former refugees and immigrants are sworn in as U.S. citizens. It is a celebration of years of perseverance, sacrifice, and hope. At one such ceremony in Columbus last year, the presiding judge reflected on one of the founding principles of the United States: “We are not all here yet.” In other words, our country continues to grow and become stronger as we welcome people from around the world as new citizens. CRIS’ newly relaunched citizenship program is built on that very notion.

Ahmad* found freedom and security in Columbus after fleeing his home country of Afghanistan. Yet after a routine immigration check-in, he was detained by ICE. Through timely support from his attorney at CRIS, Ahmad was eventually released from ICE custody and has returned to building a life here in Central Ohio.

(*name changed to protect privacy)

Even amid funding cuts and growing uncertainty, CRIS’ Refugee Health & Wellness Program continues to meet that challenge, helping individuals and families not just access care, but understand and navigate the system with confidence.

Even amid funding cuts and growing uncertainty, CRIS’ Refugee Health & Wellness Program continues to meet that challenge, helping individuals and families not just access care, but understand and navigate the system with confidence.

As we recognize National Minority Health month, we’re reflecting on the rising mental health challenges that refugees and immigrants in Central Ohio are facing, shaped by uncertainty, fear, and shifting policies—needs that CRIS’ Community Connectors program and Wellness Clinic are working urgently to meet.

On February 18, a new government issued memo confirmed one of our biggest fears: the Trump administration plans to expand Operation PARRIS–style enforcement to refugees beyond Minnesota. Read more of what this means in the full article.

In 2021, Universal Veneer (UV) in Newark, Ohio, reached out to CRIS’ Employment Services program to meet workforce needs. That year, with support from the CRIS Employment Program staff, UV hired 15 refugees for full-time employment.

Since then, an impactful partnership has developed between CRIS and UV. Five of their original CRIS hires still work there and many other refugees have found work there, too.

We recently sat down with Universal Veneer's HR Manager Brian Leman to hear his experience in partnering with CRIS and hiring those we serve. His story shows how--with CRIS--employment can be more than a job and how employers can be powerful partners in welcome.

As we turn the calendar to a new year, I’ll be honest: recent weeks — and months — have made it hard to offer a simple “Happy New Year” message without it feeling half-hearted.

The world around us feels unsettled. Many of us are entering this new year carrying concern not only for the families we serve, but for the systems meant to support them — and for one another.

And yet, here we are…

One year ago, a local family spent their holiday season preparing a home for newcomers they had never met. Today, those once-strangers are close friends—sharing meals, celebrating milestones, and even sitting together at the same Thanksgiving table. Their story is a reminder that, even in a year marked by sweeping national shifts that have made refugee welcome harder than ever, the spirit of community endures.