According to the American Community Survey Brief in the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the increase in South Dakota’s foreign-born population over the past twelve years has exceeded the national average by three times.

The state’s foreign-born population grew by 45.5%, or 10,000 people, between 2010 and 2022, compared to 15.6% for the United States as a whole.

Only in North Dakota was the percentage increase even greater, as the number of foreign-born people there rose from 17,000 to 38,000 within the same twelve years.

Nassir Yemam moved to South Dakota as a refugee from Ethiopia in the early 2000s and lives in Sioux Falls.

“I haven’t had any bad experiences, the people are nice. I like the American lifestyle,” he said. “I’m really happy with where I am, that’s why I’ve stayed here for a very long time.”

Weiwei Zhang, a state demographer and professor at South Dakota State University, said that despite the increase, the number of foreign-born residents in South Dakota is still low compared to states such as California and New York.

Of South Dakota’s estimated population of 910,000, nearly 32,000, or 3.5%, come from outside the United States, according to the report.

Zhang added that the increase in South Dakota’s foreign-born population is a continuation of the national trend. What’s notable, however, is where the foreign-born residents are coming from, she said.

Before 2000, most people coming to South Dakota came from Latin America, closely followed by Asia and then Europe. Since 2000, more people from Asia and Africa have been moving to South Dakota, pushing Latin America into third place.

Foreign-born households paid $137.7 million in federal, state and local taxes in 2018, according to a report by the American Immigration Council.

Zhang said the industries with the most foreign workers include manufacturing, healthcare, transportation and social services.

While official statistics do not provide data on why people move to a particular place, Zhang suspects that job opportunities, housing availability and existing ties with family or friends may be some of the reasons people move to South Dakota from abroad.

For some people, the reason for moving to the United States is “fear for their lives and those of their families,” says Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota.

These people are refugees.

“No individual wants to become a refugee. That is not what people want,” says Kiesow-Knudsen.

According to the Refugee Processing Center, more than 280 refugees have settled in South Dakota through July 31 in fiscal year 2024, which began in October, up from 206 people the previous year.

Most people so far have come from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The archives of the Refugee Processing Center show that 509 people from there have settled in South Dakota since 2012.

In terms of the number of arrivals in South Dakota, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Bhutan are ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo with 821 and 1,085 people respectively.

According to Kiesow-Knudsen, the countries of origin of people in the United States are changing due to the conflicts taking place all over the world.

Kiesow-Knudsen added that it was difficult for the center to determine the exact number of refugees in the country. The organization only knew about the people who came to them seeking help.

For the 2024 fiscal year, President Joe Biden approved the admission of up to 125,000 refugees, according to the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

Kiesow-Knudsen said that once the president signs the decision to admit refugees, the U.S. State Department will begin a “very thorough process” of background checking those registered as refugees to obtain status authorized to enter the country.

Meanwhile, organizations like the Center for New Americans began a “conversational exchange” with nonprofits like Global Refuge and local stakeholders about the number of refugees they can serve, taking into account factors such as the work environment, school situation and housing market, Kiesow-Knudsen said.

Kiesow-Knudsen said that as a resettlement agency, the LSS’s Center for New Americans has a responsibility to “make sure that people are integrated into the community.”

The team picks up refugees at the airport, provides them with interpreter and translation services, takes them to their new home and welcomes them with a culturally appropriate meal.

Soon after, the new arrivals are invited to attend a two-week orientation program. Yemam, an Ethiopian, said the program covers topics such as finding a job, buying groceries and “starting a new life in America.”

For Yemam, this means “relying on oneself.”

According to Kiesow-Knudsen, the federal government provides financial support to refugees for up to eight months. This is “a quick solution.”

She added that orientation leaders often invite members of the Sioux Falls community as well as representatives from law enforcement, Falls Community Health, the school district and more.

In addition to the community orientation, the Center for New Americans also offers English courses, the length of which can vary depending on the student’s language skills.

“English is key in this country,” said Yemam. “The more you speak English and the more you understand English, the more fun you will have in life.”

Yemam said the Ethiopian community in Sioux Falls is large and vibrant, with people often gathering for worship, celebrations or funeral ceremonies.

One thing that American and Ethiopian cultures have in common is respect.

“Americans are very, very respectful people,” he said. “That’s why we feel free when we come to the United States, because nobody has taken away our faith, our culture or anything else. They respect what we have and we have the right to practice our culture.”

This story was originally published on SDNewsWatch.org.