Four percent of the 4.468 million people currently living in Kentucky were born in a different country, and three percent have at least one immigrant parent. According to the American Immigration Council, over one third of all immigrants in Kentucky are naturalized American citizens. In 2018, Kentucky was number nine on the top ten list of states where most refugees resettled; according to the National Immigration Forum, 896 refugees resettled in the state of Kentucky in 2018, and 297 of those resettled in Bowling Green.
A total of 468 refugees settled in Bowling Green between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018. This year, according to the International Center, Bowling Green welcomed at least 265 refugees and 15 immigrants who arrived here on a special immigrant visa.
Bowling Green throws different events to celebrate the diversity. Each year, the city holds an International Festival to celebrate all the different people and cultures. This year, it will be held September 28.
Not only does Bowling Green have different events, but there is a high school for immigrant students in grades 9 through 12. GEO International High School, across the street from Warren Central High School, contains 185 students from around the world. The school was created to effectively transition students into the American education system.
The principal at GEO, Adam Hatcher, says that he wants to ensure students understand that they are cared about and “that they know it’s safe here — emotionally and physically.”
Most of these refugees are coming to Bowling Green and, more broadly, Kentucky through federal resettlement programs, which provide refugees with traditional cash, medical assistance, and social services. The program is a temporary arrangement for most beneficiaries while they work to gain a full citizenship or their green card.
Iveth Keen, an immigrant who came from Jalisco, Mexico, with her family and now lives in Bowling Green, said that since she was a minor when she came to the United States, she only had to swear an oath to gain immediate citizenship. However, the process was much different for her mother. Her mother was a resident first then had to wait five years to apply for citizenship. When she applied, her process took around one year. She had to go through many interviews with Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] and take a written test. Iveth said “My parents and I were interviewed by ICE agents separately. I was 10 at the time and I remember being scared because I knew what was going on and I didn’t want to get any questions wrong.”
The process of immigration can be strenuous; transitioning into a new way of living is a daunting task for anyone. However, immigrants still hope to live in the United States.
“I think it was totally worth it. For me it was a sense of security that I could stay here and not be separated from my family,” said Iveth.
A total of 468 refugees settled in Bowling Green between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018. This year, according to the International Center, Bowling Green welcomed at least 265 refugees and 15 immigrants who arrived here on a special immigrant visa.
Bowling Green throws different events to celebrate the diversity. Each year, the city holds an International Festival to celebrate all the different people and cultures. This year, it will be held September 28.
Not only does Bowling Green have different events, but there is a high school for immigrant students in grades 9 through 12. GEO International High School, across the street from Warren Central High School, contains 185 students from around the world. The school was created to effectively transition students into the American education system.
The principal at GEO, Adam Hatcher, says that he wants to ensure students understand that they are cared about and “that they know it’s safe here — emotionally and physically.”
Most of these refugees are coming to Bowling Green and, more broadly, Kentucky through federal resettlement programs, which provide refugees with traditional cash, medical assistance, and social services. The program is a temporary arrangement for most beneficiaries while they work to gain a full citizenship or their green card.
Iveth Keen, an immigrant who came from Jalisco, Mexico, with her family and now lives in Bowling Green, said that since she was a minor when she came to the United States, she only had to swear an oath to gain immediate citizenship. However, the process was much different for her mother. Her mother was a resident first then had to wait five years to apply for citizenship. When she applied, her process took around one year. She had to go through many interviews with Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] and take a written test. Iveth said “My parents and I were interviewed by ICE agents separately. I was 10 at the time and I remember being scared because I knew what was going on and I didn’t want to get any questions wrong.”
The process of immigration can be strenuous; transitioning into a new way of living is a daunting task for anyone. However, immigrants still hope to live in the United States.
“I think it was totally worth it. For me it was a sense of security that I could stay here and not be separated from my family,” said Iveth.
By Camden Haga