About
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA) is the United States office of Jesuit Refugee Service, an international Catholic organization rooted in the Jesuit tradition. Guided by the motto "Accompany. Serve. Advocate.," its mission is to accompany, serve, and advocate for refugees and other forcibly displaced people so they may heal, learn, and determine their own futures. JRS serves people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Mission
To accompany, serve, and advocate for refugees and other forcibly displaced people so they may heal, learn, and determine their own futures.
What they do
- Supports global JRS programs through funding, oversight, monitoring, and evaluation
- Provides direct services in the United States, including accompaniment-based programs for displaced migrants
- Advocates before Congress and U.S. government officials for policies that protect refugees
- Mobilizes supporters for awareness and action
- Core program areas across the global organization include education, emergency assistance, livelihoods, mental health and psychosocial support, reconciliation, and advocacy
History
Jesuit Refugee Service was established in November 1980 by Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., to respond to the plight of Vietnamese refugees fleeing their war-ravaged homeland. It rapidly expanded from assisting Vietnamese boat people in Southeast Asia to serving refugees globally as conflicts broke out in Central and Latin America, southeastern Europe, and across Africa. JRS/USA was established in 1983 as part of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. On March 19, 2000, JRS was officially registered as a foundation of the Vatican City State.
Scale and impact
According to JRS/USA, in 2024 Jesuit Refugee Service served 1,154,535 people globally and operated in 58 countries. The organization notes that at the end of 2024, 123.2 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced.
Governance
JRS/USA is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 52-1355257) headquartered at 1627 K Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006. Donations are tax deductible. Because the IRS designates it as a church, it is not required to file Form 990 returns; it does submit federal single audits, which are available for recent fiscal years via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. The organization has published a 2026-2029 Strategic Framework guiding its current work.
