Our mission is clear. IRSA acts to defend human rights, build communities, foster education, promote self-sufficiency, and forge partnerships through an array of programs.While many bear witness to the horrors of our world's violence and refugee crises, there are many thousands of untold stories of the lives that are touched — every day of the year — because of the work of IRSA and our partners in the U.S.

Every year IRSA develops and manages education and assistance programs that help refugees resettle in the U.S. These programs help refugees recover from past trauma, gain personal independence and economic self-sufficiency, become contributing members of their new communities, and able participants in all aspects of American life.

Refugees have basic human rights. Most fundamentally, no persons with a well-founded fear of persecution should be forcibly returned (refouled) to his or her homeland.

Asylum seekers have the right to a fair and impartial hearing to determine their refugee status.

All uprooted victims of human conflict, regardless of whether they cross a border, have the right to humane treatment, as well as adequate protection and assistance.

National Immigration Forum
The purpose of the National Immigration Forum is to embrace and uphold America's tradition as a nation of immigrants. The Forum advocates and builds public support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and that are fair and supportive to newcomers in our country.

These individuals and families come to the United States leaving behind their homeland ravaged by war and oppression, fleeing from persecution, and seeking the opportunity to build a new life, while living in peace, safety, and freedom. MRS is moving into the new millennium with a renewed commitment to its resettlement, pastoral care and advocacy roles on behalf of immigrants, migrants and refugees. In partnership with a large network of diocesan organiztions, each year thousands are offered a helping hand through the Church and are called forth to share their time, talent and treasure as participating members of their new community.

The work of MRS is essentially rooted in the tradition of the Scriptures and Catholic social teaching--a tradition of compassion and justice for the poor--and in the belief that the strength of the United States lies in its diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. Throughout the years, MRS has extended this compassion and served refugees and immigrants from accross the globe.
All of the activities of MRS are grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in the social and moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.