Iraqi Refugees Face Unique Challenges In New Mexico

By Sarah Gustavus

March 3, 2011 – If all the attention on the Middle East recently has you noticing more Arab influences and people in New Mexico, you're not mistaken. There has been an increase in recent years in refugees that are being resettled from Iraq in Albuquerque.

Differences in language and culture are obvious, but Iraqi refugees are distinct in other ways. Most didn't live in camps when they fled Iraq to neighboring countries. And many are finding poverty in America a real shock.