“Through Social Contact We’ll Integrate:” Refugee Perspectives on Integration Post-Resettlement

Though goals for integration drive resettlement policy and practice, the concept of integration from the perspectives of refugees is not sufficiently understood. This study examined meanings of integration among 88 refugee participants who lived in the U.S. for an average of eleven years. Thematic analysis generated themes reflective of the meaning participants made of integration as a concept as well as a lived experience: (1) voicing uncertainty, (2) social engagement, (3) expressions of welcome, (4) choosing “here,” and (5) maintaining cultural identities. Findings emphasize the social aspects of integration, which can be further incorporated within policy and practice.