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Where refugees in Texas are arriving from

Written by:
October 9, 2024
Robsonphoto // Shutterstock

Where refugees in Texas are arriving from

During the past five decades, the U.S. has resettled over 3 million refugees, making it one of the leading countries for finding new homes for people fleeing violence, persecution, and war.

In 2021, then-President Donald Trump lowered the annual cap of refugees that could be admitted into the country to 15,000. Even as the Biden administration has raised the ceiling to 125,000, the annual number of refugees arriving in the U.S. didn't immediately bounce back to pre-Trump administration levels. The numbers are increasing though, with over 25,000 refugees arriving in the U.S. in the 2022 fiscal year, twice the 2021 total.

Refugee arrivals during the 2023 fiscal year dramatically outpaced the prior two years, reaching over 60,000 from October 2022 to September 2023.

In September 2024, the greatest number of refugees admitted by the U.S. came from Venezeula, Afghanistan, and Congo. Each nation faces a unique set of circumstances that can make their citizens unsafe if they stay in their home country.

In Venezuela, over 7.5 million people have left the country due to extreme inflation, violence, food and medicine scarcity, and other factors. Most have resettled in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Afghan refugees have been fleeing to neighboring countries for decades, especially to Pakistan and Iran, which combined host over 8 million Afghans. For the last three decades, Congo, also called the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been struggling with a series of civil wars and internal battles that have left millions of people displaced, both internally and externally, with many people fleeing to neighboring countries.

Stacker referenced data from the Refugee Processing Center to compile statistics on the number of refugees and their countries of origin resettled in Texas in September 2024. Countries with only one refugee since October 2023 are not included.

September refugee statistics
Countries where refugees arrived from in September
To Texas:
#1. Venezuela: 551
#2. Afghanistan: 275
#3. Congo: 217
#4. Myanmar: 216
#5. Syria: 95
#6. Eritrea: 79
#7. Guatemala: 59
#8. Nicaragua: 52
#9. Somalia: 27
#10. Iraq: 16
#11. Republic of South Sudan: 15
#12. Burundi: 14
#13. Colombia: 13
#14. Honduras: 12
#14. Sudan: 12
#16. Pakistan: 11
#17. Central African Republic: 7
#17. Ethiopia: 7
#19. Iran: 6
#20. El Salvador: 5
#21. Nigeria: 4
#21. Yemen: 4
#23. Cuba: 3
#24. Palestine: 2

To the U.S. as a whole:
#1. Venezuela: 3,653
#2. Congo: 2,296
#3. Afghanistan: 2,068
#4. Syria: 1,585
#5. Myanmar: 1,455

States that accepted the most refugees in September:
#1. Texas: 1,702
#2. California: 1,550
#3. New York: 918
#4. Florida: 768
#5. Illinois: 750

Read on to see the countries that Texas has accepted the most refugees from since the start of the fiscal year in October 2023.

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An aerial view of caracas, Venezuela.
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#1. Venezuela

Refugees that arrived from Venezuela since October 2023
To Texas: 2,039

To the U.S. as a whole: 12,878
Top states receiving refugees from Venezuela
#1. Texas: 2,039
#2. Florida: 1,883
#3. Illinois: 664
#4. New York: 514
#5. Georgia: 512

Woman carries basket through street in Bukavu
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Katja Tsvetkova // Shutterstock

#2. Congo

Refugees that arrived from Congo since October 2023
To Texas: 1,791

To the U.S. as a whole: 19,922
Top states receiving refugees from Congo
#1. Texas: 1,791
#2. Kentucky: 1,735
#3. Ohio: 1,343
#4. New York: 1,295
#5. Arizona: 1,274

Afghan women in burkas pass by a man outside a market
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#3. Afghanistan

Refugees that arrived from Afghanistan since October 2023
To Texas: 1,574

To the U.S. as a whole: 14,707
Top states receiving refugees from Afghanistan
#1. California: 3,171
#2. Texas: 1,574
#3. Virginia: 1,257
#4. Washington: 889
#5. New York: 658

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Chantal de Bruijne // Shutterstock

#4. Myanmar

Refugees that arrived from Myanmar since October 2023
To Texas: 882

To the U.S. as a whole: 7,347
Top states receiving refugees from Myanmar
#1. Texas: 882
#2. Illinois: 761
#3. New York: 736
#4. Wisconsin: 570
#5. Georgia: 462

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hanohiki // Shutterstock

#5. Syria

Refugees that arrived from Syria since October 2023
To Texas: 676

To the U.S. as a whole: 11,274
Top states receiving refugees from Syria
#1. Michigan: 1,186
#2. New York: 1,112
#3. Pennsylvania: 954
#4. California: 763
#5. Texas: 676

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Lauren Squire // Shutterstock

#6. Guatemala

Refugees that arrived from Guatemala since October 2023
To Texas: 551

To the U.S. as a whole: 5,017
Top states receiving refugees from Guatemala
#1. California: 794
#2. Texas: 551
#3. Florida: 257
#4. North Carolina: 255
#5. New York: 219

People walking by a Cathedral in Granada, Nicaragua
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Milosz Maslanka // Shutterstock

#7. Nicaragua

Refugees that arrived from Nicaragua since October 2023
To Texas: 313

To the U.S. as a whole: 3,299
Top states receiving refugees from Nicaragua
#1. Florida: 382
#2. Texas: 313
#3. California: 259
#4. North Carolina: 139
#5. Minnesota: 135

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Dave Primov // Shutterstock

#8. Eritrea

Refugees that arrived from Eritrea since October 2023
To Texas: 286

To the U.S. as a whole: 2,410
Top states receiving refugees from Eritrea
#1. Texas: 286
#2. Washington: 253
#3. lowa: 162
#4. North Carolina: 141
#5. Maryland: 129

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Focus and Blur // Shutterstock

#9. Iraq

Refugees that arrived from Iraq since October 2023
To Texas: 189

To the U.S. as a whole: 2,278
Top states receiving refugees from Iraq
#1. California: 364
#2. Michigan: 260
#3. Texas: 189
#4. Nebraska: 136
#5. Illinois: 122

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Dave Primov // Shutterstock

#10. Somalia

Refugees that arrived from Somalia since October 2023
To Texas: 177

To the U.S. as a whole: 4,801
Top states receiving refugees from Somalia
#1. Minnesota: 1,267
#2. New York: 366
#3. Ohio: 326
#4. Arizona: 280
#5. Missouri: 257

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An aerial view of El Salvador.
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#11. El Salvador

Refugees that arrived from El Salvador since October 2023
To Texas: 174

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,331
Top states receiving refugees from El Salvador
#1. California: 187
#2. Texas: 174
#3. Maryland: 119
#4. Virginia: 99
#5. North Carolina: 83

Many people on a dirt street in Shendi
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Matyas Rehak // Shutterstock

#12. Sudan

Refugees that arrived from Sudan since October 2023
To Texas: 170

To the U.S. as a whole: 2,180
Top states receiving refugees from Sudan
#1. New York: 194
#2. Texas: 170
#3. Ohio: 146
#4. Pennsylvania: 132
#5. Missouri: 124

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amnat30 // Shutterstock

#13. Honduras

Refugees that arrived from Honduras since October 2023
To Texas: 144

To the U.S. as a whole: 901
Top states receiving refugees from Honduras
#1. Texas: 144
#2. Florida: 108
#3. New York: 62
#4. California: 48
#5. Georgia: 44

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punghi // Shutterstock

#14. Republic of South Sudan

Refugees that arrived from Republic of South Sudan since October 2023
To Texas: 122

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,320
Top states receiving refugees from Republic of South Sudan
#1. Nebraska: 151
#2. Texas: 122
#3. New York: 94
#4. lowa: 88
#5. Colorado: 68

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Matyas Rehak // Shutterstock

#15. Colombia

Refugees that arrived from Colombia since October 2023
To Texas: 117

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,382
Top states receiving refugees from Colombia
#1. Florida: 137
#2. Texas: 117
#3. New York: 114
#4. Washington: 95
#5. North Carolina: 93

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W_NAMKET // Shutterstock

#16. Pakistan

Refugees that arrived from Pakistan since October 2023
To Texas: 88

To the U.S. as a whole: 856
Top states receiving refugees from Pakistan
#1. Pennsylvania: 120
#2. Texas: 88
#3. Virginia: 62
#4. Illinois: 57
#5. North Carolina: 56

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sandis sveicers // Shutterstock

#17. Central African Republic

Refugees that arrived from Central African Republic since October 2023
To Texas: 82

To the U.S. as a whole: 864
Top states receiving refugees from Central African Republic
#1. Missouri: 89
#2. Texas: 82
#3. Michigan: 63
#4. Georgia: 60
#5. Colorado: 56

Burundian people gather at an outside market
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Rostasedlacek // Shutterstock

#18. Burundi

Refugees that arrived from Burundi since October 2023
To Texas: 79

To the U.S. as a whole: 588
Top states receiving refugees from Burundi
#1. Texas: 79
#2. Arizona: 50
#3. Pennsylvania: 44
#4. New York: 43
#5. lowa: 37

People gather in a urban park on the streets of Tehran
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Andrew V Marcus // Shutterstock

#19. Iran

Refugees that arrived from Iran since October 2023
To Texas: 53

To the U.S. as a whole: 470
Top states receiving refugees from Iran
#1. California: 277
#2. Texas: 53
#3. Michigan: 17
#4. Washington: 14
#4. Georgia: 14

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Oscar Espinosa // Shutterstock

#20. Rwanda

Refugees that arrived from Rwanda since October 2023
To Texas: 49

To the U.S. as a whole: 220
Top states receiving refugees from Rwanda
#1. Texas: 49
#2. Arizona: 19
#3. Kentucky: 13
#4. South Carolina: 12
#5. Illinois: 11

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People walking on the street in Aksum
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Artush // Shutterstock

#21. Ethiopia

Refugees that arrived from Ethiopia since October 2023
To Texas: 38

To the U.S. as a whole: 501
Top states receiving refugees from Ethiopia
#1. Minnesota: 152
#2. Washington: 46
#3. Texas: 38
#4. Ohio: 33
#5. Georgia: 29

A distant view of the Havana skyline in Cuba.
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#22. Cuba

Refugees that arrived from Cuba since October 2023
To Texas: 33

To the U.S. as a whole: 255
Top states receiving refugees from Cuba
#1. Florida: 98
#2. Texas: 33
#3. New York: 12
#3. Maryland: 12
#5. Tennessee: 10

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aleksander hunta // Shutterstock

#23. Cambodia

Refugees that arrived from Cambodia since October 2023
To Texas: 17

To the U.S. as a whole: 58
Top states receiving refugees from Cambodia
#1. Texas: 17
#2. Rhode Island: 10
#3. North Carolina: 7
#4. California: 5
#4. Oregon: 5

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#24. Haiti

Refugees that arrived from Haiti since October 2023
To Texas: 16

To the U.S. as a whole: 256
Top states receiving refugees from Haiti
#1. Pennsylvania: 41
#2. Florida: 31
#3. Nevada: 16
#3. Texas: 16
#5. Georgia: 15

Wide view of traditional, older buildings on a hillside in Yemen.
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#25. Yemen

Refugees that arrived from Yemen since October 2023
To Texas: 15

To the U.S. as a whole: 198
Top states receiving refugees from Yemen
#1. Michigan: 46
#2. New York: 26
#3. Georgia: 17
#4. Texas: 15
#5. North Carolina: 13

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#26. Cameroon

Refugees that arrived from Cameroon since October 2023
To Texas: 13

To the U.S. as a whole: 120
Top states receiving refugees from Cameroon
#1. Pennsylvania: 13
#1. Texas: 13
#3. Minnesota: 9
#4. Nevada: 8
#5. Maryland: 7

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#27. Nigeria

Refugees that arrived from Nigeria since October 2023
To Texas: 11

To the U.S. as a whole: 111
Top states receiving refugees from Nigeria
#1. Illinois: 16
#2. Missouri: 14
#3. Arizona: 13
#3. North Carolina: 13
#5. Texas: 11

Cars, people and mopeds on the streets of Kinshasa.
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Katja Tsvetkova // Shutterstock

#27. Republic of Congo

Refugees that arrived from Republic of Congo since October 2023
To Texas: 11

To the U.S. as a whole: 353
Top states receiving refugees from Republic of Congo
#1. Missouri: 32
#2. Pennsylvania: 28
#3. Wisconsin: 26
#4. New York: 25
#4. Illinois: 25

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#29. Libya

Refugees that arrived from Libya since October 2023
To Texas: 9

To the U.S. as a whole: 49
Top states receiving refugees from Libya
#1. Michigan: 9
#1. Pennsylvania: 9
#1. Texas: 9
#4. Utah: 8
#5. lowa: 7

Women beside fishing boats on the beaches of Yoff
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Salvador Aznar // Shutterstock

#30. Senegal

Refugees that arrived from Senegal since October 2023
To Texas: 8

To the U.S. as a whole: 84
Top states receiving refugees from Senegal
#1. Massachusetts: 16
#2. South Carolina: 15
#3. Florida: 9
#3. Georgia: 9
#5. Texas: 8

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Busy street in Colombo, Sri Lanka
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alionabirukova // Shutterstock

#31. Sri Lanka

Refugees that arrived from Sri Lanka since October 2023
To Texas: 5

To the U.S. as a whole: 11
Top states receiving refugees from Sri Lanka
#1. Texas: 5
#2. New Jersey: 4
#3. New York: 2

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Flightseeing-Germany // Shutterstock

#32. Guinea

Refugees that arrived from Guinea since October 2023
To Texas: 4

To the U.S. as a whole: 78
Top states receiving refugees from Guinea
#1. Colorado: 15
#2. Georgia: 9
#3. North Carolina: 7
#4. Michigan: 6
#5. Arizona: 5

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#32. The Gambia

Refugees that arrived from The Gambia since October 2023
To Texas: 4

To the U.S. as a whole: 13
Top states receiving refugees from The Gambia
#1. Illinois: 4
#1. Texas: 4
#3. Michigan: 3
#4. Georgia: 2

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#34. Mali

Refugees that arrived from Mali since October 2023
To Texas: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 185
Top states receiving refugees from Mali
#1. Pennsylvania: 27
#2. New York: 24
#3. South Carolina: 23
#4. Missouri: 16
#5. Connecticut: 13

People walking on busy street with market stalls in Gaza
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Stephen Butler // Shutterstock

#34. Palestine

Refugees that arrived from Palestine since October 2023
To Texas: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 30
Top states receiving refugees from Palestine
#1. Illinois: 10
#2. New Jersey: 4
#2. Ohio: 4
#2. Oregon: 4
#5. Michigan: 3

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Pedestrians and traffic on the streets of Almaty
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Omri Eliyahu // Shutterstock

#34. Kazakhstan

Refugees that arrived from Kazakhstan since October 2023
To Texas: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 111
Top states receiving refugees from Kazakhstan
#1. Washington: 43
#2. California: 19
#2. Pennsylvania: 19
#4. Oregon: 10
#5. Massachusetts: 8

Woman walking on busy street in Kampala with basket of mangos
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Vlad Karavaev // Shutterstock

#34. Uganda

Refugees that arrived from Uganda since October 2023
To Texas: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 46
Top states receiving refugees from Uganda
#1. Missouri: 12
#2. Massachusetts: 6
#3. Michigan: 5
#3. Ohio: 5
#5. Washington: 4

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Beata Tabak // Shutterstock

#34. Ivory Coast

Refugees that arrived from Ivory Coast since October 2023
To Texas: 3

To the U.S. as a whole: 66
Top states receiving refugees from Ivory Coast
#1. Pennsylvania: 10
#2. Minnesota: 8
#3. Massachusetts: 7
#4. Arkansas: 6
#5. Florida: 4

Group of people crossing street in Jakarta
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Shalstock // Shutterstock

#39. Indonesia

Refugees that arrived from Indonesia since October 2023
To Texas: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 2
Top states receiving refugees from Indonesia
#1. Texas: 2

Woman carrying child to Lviv train station on snowy day
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Ruslan Lytvyn // Shutterstock

#39. Ukraine

Refugees that arrived from Ukraine since October 2023
To Texas: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 1,447
Top states receiving refugees from Ukraine
#1. Washington: 524
#2. California: 248
#3. New York: 90
#4. Florida: 74
#5. South Carolina: 61

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#39. Vietnam

Refugees that arrived from Vietnam since October 2023
To Texas: 2

To the U.S. as a whole: 118
Top states receiving refugees from Vietnam
#1. Minnesota: 52
#2. North Carolina: 37
#3. California: 8
#4. Oklahoma: 7
#5. Arkansas: 5

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 48 states.

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