Immigrants and Refugees

CERI is passionately committed to improving the lives of refugees and immigrants impacted by the effects of war, torture, genocide, and other life-altering traumas.

Our organization tailors a range of services specifically designed to the needs of our community members, including trauma-informed mental health support and specialized care management. Our dedicated team, coming from the same communities we serve, possesses a wealth of lived experiences and is able to develop stronger connections with our community members. We are committed in our dedication to delivering holistic services that address the social and mental health needs of our community while fostering a sense of community through gatherings and outreach initiatives.

Here is a summary of the historical background and context of the refugee and immigrant communities that CERI serves:

Afghan Refugees

Afghans have suffered more than 40 years of conflict, natural disasters, chronic poverty, and food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic and most recently the events leading up to the Taliban’s takeover of the country in August 2021 intensified instability and violence – causing even more human suffering and displacement. 

According to Human Rights Watch, more than 8 million Afghans have been driven out of their homes or their country by conflict, violence and poverty. With the withdrawal of international forces and a surge in violence, a significant number of Afghans fled their homes, seeking safety and a chance for a better future elsewhere. The United States became a destination for many Afghan refugees. In the Bay Area, a region historically known for its welcoming stance toward immigrants and refugees, efforts were made to provide aid and support to Afghan refugees. Since 2022, CERI has stepped up its efforts to ensure Afghan refugees have access to essential services, especially emotional and mental health support as they settle in their new communities in Alameda and the adjacent counties.

Burmese Refugees

Resource-rich and fertile, Burma was once regarded as “the rice bowl of Asia.” Under military rule since 1962, its fortunes have steadily declined, and today it is one of the world’s least developed and least free countries. It is also the source of one of the world’s most protracted refugee crises. More than half a million refugees from Burma (also called Myanmar) are in neighboring and nearby countries such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Thailand. To date, the US has resettled nearly 5,000 refugees from Burma, with 500+ resettled to the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily in East Oakland.  

Cambodian Refugees

CERI  serves a large number of Cambodian refugees—survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide—who resettled in the US in the 1980s. 

In 1975, a Communist regime called the Khmer Rouge swept through the country and seized its government. The Khmer Rouge then imposed what became popularly known as the "killing fields," in which unspeakable brutality was carried out by the insurgents and their supporters against the Cambodian population. By 1979, starvation, disease and murder had taken the lives of 1.7 million Cambodians—approximately one-eighth of the total population. Through the intervention of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), some refugees were admitted to the US from 1978 to 1985. Very few have entered since.

Eritrean Refugees

The war in Eritrea, which spanned from 1961 to 1991, was a protracted struggle for independence against Ethiopian rule. After gaining independence, Eritrea faced internal conflicts and strained relationships with neighboring countries. Eritrea's unstable political and economic conditions, compounded by human rights abuses and mandatory national service, led to a significant refugee crisis. Many Eritreans fled their country in search of safety. The Eritrean refugees in the Bay Area face are still grappling with the traumas of losing loved ones, displacement, and the effects of war.

Ethiopian Refugees

The ongoing conflict in Ethiopia, which intensified in 2020 in the Tigray region in Northern Ethiopia, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, and Southern Nations and Nationalities, has its roots in political, ethnic, and historical tensions within the country. The conflict escalated into a full-scale war, causing immense suffering, displacement, family separation, torture, rape, and loss of life. The violence has resulted in a severe refugee crisis, with thousands of Ethiopians fleeing the violence.  Ethiopian refugees in the Bay Area, like many others around the world, grapple with the trauma of displacement, loss of loved ones, and the challenge of adapting to a foreign culture.

Indonesian Refugees

Indonesian refugees have fled their country due to political persecution, religious discrimination, ethnic conflicts, and human rights abuses. Factors like armed conflict, economic instability, environmental disasters, and severe poverty have driven Indonesians to seek asylum in other countries for safety and better living conditions. 

Iranian Refugees

The Islamic Republic regime in Iran, established in 1979, has been marked by political repression, censorship, human rights abuses, and limitations on personal freedoms. This authoritarian government has led to the suppression of political dissent and the stifling of social and cultural expression, causing many Iranians to seek refuge abroad. Iranian refugees in California often bring with them stories of persecution and hardship as they escape the oppressive regime in their homeland.

Nepali Refugees

Many Nepali asylum seekers make their way to the United States through harrowing circumstances, often guided by human traffickers who threaten both them and their families back home at every step of the journey. By the time they reach the United States, they bear the heavy burden of severe emotional trauma. The root of this trafficking crisis lies in the prolonged political instability, human rights violations, and marginalization endured by numerous ethnic and political groups in Nepal. Discrimination based on ethnicity, caste, and political beliefs further intensifies these challenges, compelling many to seek refuge beyond their homeland. In the Bay Area, Nepalese asylees encounter the significant challenge of adjusting to a new culture, navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system, and addressing the deep trauma resulting from their past experiences.

Rwandan Refugees

The tragic and brutal ethnic conflict known as the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda led to the mass killing of more than one million Tutsi in just 100 days. The aftermath of this genocide has had enduring effects on the survivors, leaving them deeply marked by trauma and loss. As a result, some of these survivors have become refugees scattered across the globe.

Tibetan Refugees

Tibetan refugees have faced a long and challenging journey escaping the oppressive policies and human rights abuses imposed by the Chinese government in Tibet. The Chinese occupation of Tibet since the 1950s has led to displacement and forced migration of many Tibetans. Tibetan refugees living in the Bay Area navigate the complexities of being refugees seeking asylum. They grapple with the struggle of adapting to a new culture while preserving their unique identity and traditions. 

Vietnamese Refugees

In 1975, large-scale immigration from Vietnam to the US began with the fall of Saigon, when the US evacuated an estimated 125,000 Vietnamese refugees. As the humanitarian crisis worsened in the Indochina region (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos), more refugees were admitted to the US. Since then, the Vietnamese immigrant population has grown significantly, roughly doubling every decade between 1980 and 2000, and then increasing 26% in the 2000s.