By Matt Rooney | August 18, 2008

New Jersey will soon be home to hundreds of Iraqi refugees. Many state-based Catholic organizations are actively participating in a national program to resettle Iraqi refugees in the United States. Thus far, dozens of families have been relocated to New Jersey. The Courier-Post reports that most of the new arrivals "are among the most vulnerable and the least likely to return to Iraq after the war ends."

But what kind of opportunities can our newest residents look forward to? Their hosts aren't quite sure:

Mai Lieu, the director of migration and refugee services for Catholic Family and Community Services in Paterson, says her agency has received one Iraqi family in recent weeks and been notified that they should start preparing to help resettle others. ... "In New Jersey, the rent is very high and the jobs pay minimum wage," Lieu said. "Mostly, we try to get them a job because we don't want to put them on public assistance."

I can see The Star-Ledger article now: "NJ Iraqis Relocate to North Carolina Citing Cost of Living Concerns."