Lutheran Social Services reports just 149 refugees arrived in the state during the 2025 federal fiscal year — down sharply from 391 the year before. And the agency says no refugees have arrived in the past 11 months.
Nationally, arrivals also dropped, falling from about 100,000 to 38,000.
Lutheran Social Services has managed resettlement in South Dakota for 25 years, helping newcomers with housing, jobs, education, and legal services. CEO Rebecca Kiesow‑Knudsen says global conflicts drive where refugees come from, and recent arrivals have largely been from Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The number of refugees allowed into the U.S. is set by the president. The admissions cap for 2025 was set at 125,000. The current fiscal year’s cap is 7,500, the lowest in U.S. history. Kiesow‑Knudsen says that means South Dakota shouldn’t expect many new arrivals unless individuals already have family ties here.
She says family reunification remains the biggest factor in where refugees ultimately resettle.
Reporting courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
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