Coming to America: Refugee Resettlement Presented by Rachele King March 2012

Coming to America:Coming to America: Refugee ResettlementRefugee Resettlement

Presented by Rachele KingPresented by Rachele KingMarch 2012March 2012

Imagine…..Imagine…..

OverviewOverview

Flight : Refugee realitiesFlight : Refugee realities Overseas process: How refugees Overseas process: How refugees

come to MNcome to MN Arrival and Domestic Arrival and Domestic

Resettlement: The role of Resettlement: The role of resettlement agencies. resettlement agencies.

Adjustment and life in the USAdjustment and life in the US

Definition of RefugeeDefinition of Refugee

A person who has been forced to flee his/her homeland and is unable to return because she or he has experienced persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution.

Persecution based on:Persecution based on:

Race Religion Nationality Membership

of a particular social group

Political opinion

The Life of a Refugee

Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya

The Life of a Refugee

Stuck in limboStuck in limbo Little or no opportunity to pursue Little or no opportunity to pursue

education or stable employmenteducation or stable employment Residing in refugee camps with Residing in refugee camps with

unsafe conditionsunsafe conditions– ViolenceViolence– DiseaseDisease

Refugee Realities: Refugees often stay in protracted refugee situations for years or even decades. Less than ½ of 1% are permanently resettled anywhere in the world in a given year.

Photo Courtesy of UNHCRPhoto Courtesy of UNHCR

Presidential Presidential DeterminationDetermination

Signed into law each October by the Signed into law each October by the US PresidentUS President

Sets US refugee arrival ceilingsSets US refugee arrival ceilings Lists priority populations for Lists priority populations for

resettlement in the coming yearresettlement in the coming year Determines Nationalities eligible for Determines Nationalities eligible for

“Family Reunification”“Family Reunification”

FY 2011 Proposed FY 2011 Proposed AdmissionsAdmissions

Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000East Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,000East Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,000Europe and Central Asia . . . . . . . . .2,000Europe and Central Asia . . . . . . . . .2,000Latin America/Caribbean. . . . . . . . . 5,500Latin America/Caribbean. . . . . . . . . 5,500Near East/South Asia. . . . . . . . . . 35,000Near East/South Asia. . . . . . . . . . 35,000Unallocated Reserve . . . . . . . . . . .3,000Unallocated Reserve . . . . . . . . . . .3,000

TOTAL……………………………..80,000TOTAL……………………………..80,000

Overseas ProcessOverseas Process

Several interviews with NGOsSeveral interviews with NGOs Interview with US Homeland Interview with US Homeland

SecuritySecurity Security clearancesSecurity clearances Medical ScreeningMedical Screening Cultural orientationCultural orientation Travel loan singnedTravel loan singned

Status in the USAStatus in the USA ““Refugee” is a unique immigration Refugee” is a unique immigration

status status Work Authorized upon arrivalWork Authorized upon arrival Permanent statusPermanent status Path to US CitizenshipPath to US Citizenship Eligible for public benefitsEligible for public benefits

Minnesota is “Special”Minnesota is “Special”

Minnesota has the highest ratio Minnesota has the highest ratio of refugee : foreign born of refugee : foreign born residents in the United Statesresidents in the United States

47% of the foreign-born 47% of the foreign-born population in Minnesota entered population in Minnesota entered as refugees, as compared to as refugees, as compared to 17% nation-wide.17% nation-wide.

Based on ORR annual survey Minnesota led the country in welcoming “secondary arrivals”

For every one refugee that For every one refugee that leaves MN for another state, leaves MN for another state, three come to MN to build a three come to MN to build a home.home.

Locally, there are 6 VOLAGs: Locally, there are 6 VOLAGs: – Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC)Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC)– World ReliefWorld Relief– International InstituteInternational Institute– Catholic CharitiesCatholic Charities– Lutheran Social ServicesLutheran Social Services– Jewish Family ServicesJewish Family Services

All refugees arrive through All refugees arrive through a Voluntary Agency a Voluntary Agency

(VOLAG)(VOLAG)

Reception and Reception and Placement (R&P)Placement (R&P)

Pre-Arrival PlanningPre-Arrival Planning30 day service period30 day service period$925 transitional grant funds per $925 transitional grant funds per personperson

30-90 days 30-90 days “Resettlement Period”“Resettlement Period”

What do What do VOLAGs do??VOLAGs do??

Core ServicesCore Services Pre-Arrival PlanningPre-Arrival Planning Airport receptionAirport reception Basic needs Basic needs Home and Community Home and Community

orientationorientation Connect to servicesConnect to services

– Public benefitsPublic benefits– Health servicesHealth services– Social SecuritySocial Security– Educational serviceEducational service– Community resourcesCommunity resources– Employment servicesEmployment services– Specialized servicesSpecialized services– More!More!

Preparing for winter – Preparing for winter – Coat DrivesCoat Drives

Welcome BasketsWelcome Baskets

Moving In…Moving In…

Getting out….Getting out….

Getting Around! Getting Around!

““LINKAGES”LINKAGES”

Volunteers and community Volunteers and community supportssupports

Refugees are eligible for benefits Refugees are eligible for benefits like US Citizens.like US Citizens.

Realities…Realities…

Still need to struggle to surviveStill need to struggle to survive Complicated bureaucracies to navigateComplicated bureaucracies to navigate Complicated rules / compliance Complicated rules / compliance

requirements to receive services.requirements to receive services. Mixed messagesMixed messages Systems don’t always work… self Systems don’t always work… self

advocacy needed. advocacy needed. Hope can be hard to sustainHope can be hard to sustain

HOPEHOPE