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Twenty years ago, the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association began as an organization
serving primarily Southeast Asian refugees. Today, the CMAA serves
refugees from all over the world.
The current refugee population
in the Columbus metropolitan area is conservatively estimated to be 35,000. The principle refugee groups in Columbus come from: Cambodia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq,
Laos, Russia, Somalia, Vietnam, and the former Yugoslavia. Smaller numbers
come from other African countries, Cuba, Eastern Europe, and other countries.
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For clarification on terminology, for example, the
distinction between
refugees, asylees, and immigrants, or
the meaning of the visa lottery, TPS and other immigration terms, click here
to view the Immigration and Naturalization Service's glossary. |
The estimated breakdown is as follows:
Cambodia
Eritrea/Ethiopia
Former Soviet Union
Laos
Somalia
Vietnam
Other |
3,000
4,000
5,000
1,800
12,000
2,000
10,200 |
Refugees continue being resettled in the Columbus area today. This includes enormous numbers of secondary migrants,
i.e. refugees who have initially been resettled in other parts of the United States,
who later move to Columbus. They are attracted to Columbus because of its low cost of living and the
availability of jobs.
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