Our History and Commitment to Refugees and Immigrants
Catholic Charities’ got its formal start in 1962 assisting Cuban children who were evacuated after Fidel Castro established a communist government in Cuba.Operation Pedro Pan, a national initiative, engaged Catholic Charities agencies to find foster homes for children separated from their parents. In subsequent years, we faithfully served refugees legally admitted to the United States—families and individuals fleeing war, persecution, and danger from countries around the world. This work, grounded in Scripture and Catholic social teaching, has been a vital expression of our mission to serve vulnerable, displaced people.
Federal funding changes and policy shifts in 2025 forced a significant restructuring of our refugee services programs. As a result, we will end our New Americans program September 30, 2025. The difficult decision stems from the pause in refugee arrivals, the loss of our national resettlement partner—the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)—and stagnant federal housing and basic needs stipends amidst rapidly rising living costs in Middle Tennessee.
Despite these changes, our commitment remains steadfast to serve those legally permitted to live and work in the U.S. at our locations in Middle Tennessee, as well as through the Tennessee Office for Refugees, which remains fully operational and functions as a separate department under Catholic Charities.
The Tennessee Office for Refugees is designated and funded by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and works on behalf of the state to administer the state’s refugee resettlement program. It provides administrative oversight, technical assistance, and support to partner agencies across Tennessee that serve those designated as eligible for the ORR funding
Visit the Tennessee Office for Refugees website
Refugee Services (Through Partner Agencies)
While Catholic Charities will no longer directly resettle refugees through its New Americans program, Catholic Charities’ TOR unit will continue to support statewide efforts through its partner agencies, for programs designed to provide longer term support for those new arrivals, specifically providing:
Immigration Support Services
Catholic Charities continues to offer Immigration Support Services to help individuals and families navigate complex legal processes. Our services include:
- Citizenship and naturalization assistance
- Work authorization
- Family reunification counseling
- Help with completing immigration forms
Our immigration coordinators are accredited by the Department of Justice and offer a compassionate, cost-effective alternative to attorney services.
Looking Ahead
Despite the end of our New Americans direct services program, Catholic Charities remains dedicated to serving Middle Tennesseans in need through our Family Resource Centers and satellite locations—providing emergency assistance, emotional support, and employment services.
Immigration Services provides counseling, assistance in completing immigration forms to individuals seeking assistance in most immigration matters.
The Refugee Elders Program provides support services in a group format to assist newly resettled older adults as they adjust to life in the United States.
Helping refugees reach their goal of self-sufficiency through employment.
The Refugee Resettlement Program provides core resettlement services to newly arrived refugee individuals and families.
Youth services is comprised of multiple programs designed to support and prepare newly arrived refugee, asylee, and migrant youth for success in the United States.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Judy Orr, executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville, in coordination with the Catholic Charities board of trustees, made the following announcement about a restructuring of the organization. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville is undergoing a major restructuring, necessitated by recent federal funding cuts that have effectively dismantled the U.S. […]
Family-friendly celebration joins national effort to unite communities across differences NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 14, 2025)—Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville, invites the public to its second annual Kaleidoscope celebration on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Catholic Pastoral Center, 2800 McGavock Pike. The free, family-friendly outdoor event serves as a […]
The recent executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has immediate consequences for the families Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville serves. Without your support, recently-arrived individuals will suffer due to this unprecedented freeze on aid. Every person resettled through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program undergoes thorough vetting and receives approval from the Department of […]