Since 1982, welcoming refugees and immigrants who enrich communities across Connecticut and the U.S. The mission of IRIS is to help refugees and other displaced people to establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut's communities. Refugees are men, women and children who fled their countries of origin due to persecution on the basis of their race, nationality, religious belief, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. They are granted special immigration status according to international law. Each year the US government invites a small number of them to start new lives, or "resettle," in this country. The front-line work of resettlement is done by local agencies like IRIS. IRIS works intensively with refugees, particularly during the first year of their resettlement, to help them build lives of their own choosing in the US.