Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees
WELCOME!
The Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA) provides support and services to refugees to ease their transition into American society, and serves as a resource to the Governor and General Assembly on refugee and immigrant policy.
America has always been a haven for those fleeing oppression. Indeed, Maryland itself began as an experiment in religious freedom, founded by refugees fleeing English intolerance. Today, the U.S. annually admits as many as 70,000 refugees, whose adjustment to life in America is often a perplexing experience. Some come from rural villages without electricity or running water. Many speak no English and have little formal education. Still others have known only authoritarian rule and are bewildered by the freedoms Americans take for granted. Recognizing that such adjustment can be filled with hardship, Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980. It funds domestic resettlement programs for incoming refugees nationwide.
The Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees has helped more than 35,000 refugees make Maryland their home, aiding their transition from "displaced persons" to independent, contributing members of the national economy and local community. Working through a public/private network of dedicated service providers, MORA plans, administers, and coordinates transitional services aimed at helping refugees become self-sufficient as quickly as they can. Inducting the newcomers into the subtleties of American culture is important. MORA service providers instruct refugees on life skills, familiarizing them with such daily routines as how to shop at the supermarket, manage a budget, take public transportation, open a savings account, register for the draft, or call 911 for emergencies. Preparing refugees for the American working environment is a priority. The newcomers learn how to write a resume and interview for a job. They recognize that employment is the first step towards self-sufficiency and are eager to work.
