Iraqi native Kofades, who didn’t disclose his last name, takes a selfie with his family at a ceremony to celebrate World Refugee Day and to honor newly naturalized Las Vegans at East Las Vegas Library Thursday, June 17, 2021.
Friday, June 18, 2021 | 2 a.m.
Deacon Tom Roberts walked up to the new U.S. citizens being honored Thursday during a World Refugee Day event at the East Las Vegas Library and handed them a small American flag.
“God bless you, and God bless America,” said Roberts, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada to each of the 15 former refugees in attendance.
Kofadees, who only wanted the Sun to use his first name, said he appreciates the freedoms and safety the U.S. has provided his family. Kofadees and his three boys, who fled the conflict in their native Iraq seven years ago, were four of the honorees.
“America (gave) me everything I have,” he said. “I have to respect that.”
After fleeing Mosul with his wife and kids, they arrived in Las Vegas, where they were taken in by Catholic Charities, one of the organizations that helps the federal government resettle refugees.
The culture shock was initially a hurdle, Kofadees, 43, said. But Catholic Charities provided a home, utilities, job training, English classes, and when they were eligible for U.S. citizenship five years later, civics classes.
Kofadees, like most refugees, left family, friendships, memories and an entire life behind in his country. But he’s overly appreciative of the life America has given his family.
He’s one of 28 refugees residing in Southern Nevada who have become citizens in the last year and a half.
In his ever-improving English, he said getting recognized Thursday was a “big, big thing for me. God bless America.”
There were about 26 million displaced refugees in 2019, according to the latest figures from the United Nations.
Nevada has taken in 7,392 refugees from 2002 to 2019, according to Gov. Steve Sisolak’s office, which proclaimed Sunday as World Refugee Day in the state.
Carisa Lopez Ramirez, vice president immigration and migration services for Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and state refugee coordinator for the state of Nevada, said refugees — whom she described as the “most vetted population” in the U.S. — are eligible up to five years for services, but most find their footing in about a year.
“I’m very grateful and honored to be here,” said Lopez Ramirez, an immigrant from the Philippines who has been with the organization for 22 years.
Catholic Charities helped Adrian Cardenas, a native of Cuba, reunite with his mother and brother who came here a few months before he did seven years ago.
A dancer, musician and artistic director by trade, the communist regime back home did not let him express himself, he said.
“It would hit the brakes on me,” said Cardenas, who, like his brother, plays bass guitar and piano.
It was difficult to assimilate, but Catholic Charities guided his family every step of the way, he said. His family eventually upgraded their tiny apartment into a small house.
“Honestly, one really misses the culture back home,” he said. “But I’m very happy to have arrived here. Very happy.”
