Why Utah?

Utah is home to 30,000 to 50,000 refugees.

The state's history of accepting refugees dates to the 1950s, when the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established by the U.N. General Assembly. Thousands of southeast Asians also made their way to Utah after the Refugee Resettlement Act of 1980 was passed.

While most states have some kind of refugee resettlement, Salt Lake City is one of 24 in the country designated a resettlement location by the International Rescue Committee. Officials say Utah's family-friendly environment, low housing costs, entry-level jobs and community support network make it a good place for refugees to land.