Unsettling Resettlement: Examining Local Dynamics of Refugee Integration in the United States Amid National Policy Change

Immigrant integration scholars increasingly emphasize the “local” level, yet most analyses of multilevel integration governance focus on municipal or other governmental actors. However, in the U.S. resettlement program, local governments have little influence on refugee integration, as resettlement services are provided by contracted non-governmental organizations. To understand local integration in this context, I analyze local resettlement practices via an Iowa-based case study. This study highlights the interplay between national policies and local practices within the context of multilevel integration governance via non-governmental organizations, enhancing comprehension of local integration processes.