Bloomington could be in a position to accept refugees some time next year.
According to multiple sources, Exodus Refugee Immigration, one of three main resettlement agencies in Indiana, is in the process of trying to open a sub-office in Bloomington. That possibility was discussed during a meeting last week of Congregation Beth Shalom's social justice committee.
Among those attending the meeting were Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, who said it would be a positive step forward for the community.
The Indianapolis-based organization has applied for a grant from the U.S. Department of State that, if approved, would allow Exodus Refugee to open the office.
Should the grant be approved, the organization has told people in local faith communities, local government and other sectors that it would hope to open the office by January and that Bloomington then would welcome the first of its refugees, most likely from Syria or the Congo, in the spring of next year.
Cole Varga, executive director of Exodus, acknowledged in an email that the organization have been in communication with various groups in Bloomington about "how they can help in our efforts to welcome refugees to Indiana."
"There are now 20 million refugees in the world with an additional 40 million displaced individuals," Varga said in the email. "With this level of humanitarian need, cities across the U.S. are looking to open their doors to the world's most vulnerable people. Exodus is exploring way to partner with Bloomington in this endeavor."
The move, which is necessary to bring refugees to the area because the federal government cannot settle persons in areas without a resettlement agency, comes as Exodus is awaiting a decision in an appeal of a lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed on the organization's behalf against Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. It filed that suit after Pence last year ordered state agencies to suspend certain federal aid for Syrian refugees in the wake of the November terror attacks in Paris.