Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Department of State U.S. Refugee Admissions Barbara Day, Chief, Domestic Resettlement Office of Refugee Admissions Presentation for North Carolina State Refugee Conference August 20, 2013
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Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Department of State U.S. Refugee.
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Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
U.S. Refugee Admissions
Barbara Day, Chief, Domestic Resettlement Office of Refugee Admissions
Presentation for North Carolina State Refugee ConferenceAugust 20, 2013
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
offers resettlement in the United States to persons overseas who have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution based on
one of the five statutory grounds.
Somali Bantu at IOM-run transit center in Nairobi, bound for U.S.
The US Refugee Admissions Program
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Key Takeaways• The USRAP is a successful public-private partnership involving
multiple USG agencies, IOs, NGOs, state/local governments, communities, private citizens, and other stakeholders.
• This worldwide program operates in 50-60 countries, includes 60-70 nationalities, and resettles in 49 states and DC.
• The U.S. resettles more refugees than all other 27 resettlement countries combined.
• The program needs to be re-authorized by the President every year, giving Congress a key role in its design.
• UNHCR plays a key role in referring refugees for resettlement, but there are other ways that applicants are referred for consideration.
• While the domestic component of the program is focused on self-sufficiency and early employment, the U.S. does not select individuals for those reasons.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
USRAP is a small component of immigration to U.S.• In recent years, total legal immigration has been ~1,000,000
persons/year – Most (~900,000) are relatives of persons in the U.S. or had job
offers from U.S. employers.– Minority (~100,000) are granted asylum or admitted to the U.S.
as refugees from first asylum locations or directly from country of origin.
• Refugee admission numbers rise and fall depending on need, volume of referrals, capacity to process.– Since 1975, over 3 million refugees have been admitted
o Highest level – 207,000 in 1980 o Lowest level – 20,000 in 1977
27,000 in 2002
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Key Components of the USRAP
• Identification of refugees who are eligible to be considered for U.S. admission
• Overseas processing, including USCIS adjudication, cultural orientation, medical screening, security background checks, and sponsorship assurances
• Transportation to the U.S. arranged by IOM
• Initial reception and placement in the U.S.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
USG PartnersDept. of State: Develops policy and serves as overall manager of the USRAP. Responsible for initial support to refugees post-arrival.
DHS/USCIS: Officers determine eligibility for admission.
Congress: Consulted on annual refugee admissions.
HHS/ORR: Administers cash, medical and social service programs through states and NGOs.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• Manages Resettlement Support Center (RSCs) for Eurasia, Middle East/North Africa, South Asia, and Latin America
• Serves as panel physician and conducts overseas refugee medical exams in most locations
• Arranges for transportation to the United States
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
NGOs and Local Partners• Resettlement Support Centers (RSC): Under cooperative
agreements with DOS/PRM. Assist applicants with pre-interview paperwork and post-interview procedures. RSCs operated by either NGO or IOM.
• Domestic NGOs: Under cooperative agreements with DOS/PRM. Provide initial reception and placement.
• State and Local Governments: Provide cash, medical, employment services, transportation, education through HHS/ORR funding.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Admissions-Focused PRM Refugee Coordinators
Havana
Bogota
BaghdadAmman
Bangkok
Nairobi
Kathmandu
Vienna
Kampala
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
• Nine RSCs are operated by an NGO, IOM, or in-house (Havana)• They work under cooperative agreements with PRM with a
single country focus (ie Cuba, Austria) or a regional basis.• RSCs
Interview applicants; take persecution claim and family information.
Initiate security checks.Schedule and support USCIS adjudication teams.Provide pre-departure cultural orientation.Work with IOM to finalize travel to U.S. once all clearances
are obtained.
RESETTLEMENT SUPPORT CENTERS
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Resettlement Support Centers
Cuba- DOS
S.E. Asia – IRC
Middle East- IOM
Africa - CWS
S. Asia- IOM
Turkey, Middle East- ICMC
Eurasia IOM
Austria- HIAS
L. America - IOM
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
How do we decide who gets to be resettled in the United States?
• Ongoing consultations with NGOs, UNHCR, advocates, and Congress throughout the year inform our thinking.
• Each summer, PRM/A prepares a Report to Congress laying out proposed regional ceilings for refugee admissions which must be cleared by DHS, HHS, National Security Staff, and OMB.
• The Secretary of State presents the President’s proposal to Judiciary Committees in the House and Senate. (known as “Consultations”)
• The Presidential Determination is issued before refugees may arrive in the next fiscal year.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Consultation Process
The President, in consultation with Congress, establishes the number of refugees by geographic region eligible for
admission each fiscal year.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
FY 2013 Program
Region Ceiling for FY13 Primary populations
Africa 12,000
(14,000)
Somalis in Kenya and Ethiopia; Eritreans in Ethiopia, Congolese
East Asia 17,000 Burmese in Thailand and Malaysia
Europe and Central Asia
2,000 Religious minorities from the former Soviet Union
Latin
America
5,000 Cubans (many) and Colombians (few)
N. East/
S. Asia
31,000 Iraqis, Bhutanese in Nepal, Iranian religious minorities
Unallocated Reserve
3,000
(1,000)
Available for use as needed for any region
Total 70,000
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
How is a refugee admitted to the U.S.?• Access is granted by the Department of State upon receipt of
a referral from UNHCR, a U.S. Embassy, or certain NGOs. In certain locations/programs, individuals submit applications.
• Case is prepared (“pre-screened”) by a PRM-funded Resettlement Support Center, security checks are launched.
• Case is adjudicated by DHS/USCIS officer in a face-to-face interview. Fingerprints are taken at interview. PRM and USCIS are responsible for certain security checks.
• If case is approved, RSC coordinates medical exam, CO, assurance; case is booked for travel by IOM.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Individual P-1 Referral
Group P-2Referral
Family Reunification
P-3
USCISInterview & Fingerprints ApprovalDenial
Security Checks: CLASS/ SAO / IAC1
MedicalScreening
SponsorshipAssurance
CulturalOrientation
IAC2Travel to U.S.
(IOM)
Request for Review
RSC(Resettlement Support
Center)
R&P Services
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Overseas Medical Screenings• Overseas screenings conducted mostly by IOM
– Screening is for excludable conditions (e.g., tuberculosis)– New TB Technical Instructions are being phased in according to
CDC guidelines• Vaccination Pilot (CDC)
– Ethiopia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand– Some arrivals in Spring 2013, most in Summer 2013– PRM and CDC, w/select state refugee health programs, will
track sample of refugees to the domestic final destination to:1) confirm receipt/seek feedback re: documentation from med providers
2) confirm that refugees did not require revaccination post arrival; or
3) if refugees were revaccinated post arrival, provide feedback to IOM
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Reception and Placement (R&P) Program A public-private partnership
• R&P is a program administered by PRM to help refugees with their initial resettlement in the U.S.
• PRM partners with nine national resettlement agencies to help place refugees throughout the U.S.
• PRM provides a portion of the funding necessary to fulfill the R&P requirements. ($1,875 per capita)
• Agencies provide refugees with basic necessities and core services during their initial resettlement period of 30 to 90 days.
• The goal of the U.S. refugee program is economic self-sufficiency as soon as possible after arrival.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) – 17 affiliates
• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) – 30 affiliates
• International Rescue Committee (IRC) – 21 affiliates
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) – 58 affiliates
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) – 113 affiliates
• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) – 33 affiliates
• World Relief (WR) – 22 affiliates
Domestic Resettlement Agencies
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Top Ten Resettlement Cities FY 20121. San Diego
2. Atlanta
3. Dallas/Fort Worth
4. Detroit
5. Houston
6. Phoenix
7. Minneapolis/St Paul
8. Seattle
9. Chicago
10. Denver
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Determining Resettlement Capacity
• Each fiscal year, the national resettlement agencies work in partnership with their local affiliates to assess the number and types of refugees each affiliate can resettle in the upcoming year.
• The affiliates engage in consultations with many relevant state and community partners to arrive at the proposed capacity.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Stakeholders
The affiliates work in partnership with the following
stakeholders help assess local resettlement capacity:
1) The State Refugee Coordinator
2) The State Refugee Health Coordinator
3) Local Health Providers
4) Employment and Social Service Providers
5) Public Schools
6) Employers
7) Others
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
The R&P Proposal Process
• Local affiliates prepare abstracts
• National resettlement agencies submit R&P proposals
• Proposal review panel evaluates each proposal
• Additional stakeholders (SRCs and ORR) offer feedback to PRM
• PRM makes final determination
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
The Allocations Process
• Each week the national agencies meet to select cases that are ready for sponsorship assurance.
• It is a system that strives to be equitable in the distribution of cases.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Allocations Pools• Non U.S. Tie / Non U.S. Tie Medical Pool
Cases with no ties to persons in the U.S. or who do not wish to join friends and family in the U.S.
• U.S. Tie PoolCases with a friend or relative in the USCases must include complete address OR phone number, city and state
• Predestined PoolCases with an AORM3 and M4 Cases (Unaccompanied Minors)
• Rainbow PoolCases with competing agencies connections
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Deciding Where a Case Will Go
What do Resettlement Agencies take into account?
• Language capacity• Case composition• Housing• Employment statistics• Medical services• Ethnic communities• YTD arrivals projection/totals• Cash assistance rates• Special considerations (minors, elderly, single mother, etc.)
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
R&P Flow Chart
I. Pre-Arrival Preparation
AllocationRefugee is assigned to one of nine resettlement agencies.
Placement Assurance
The assigned agency ensures they have the capacity to serve
the case in a specific city.
Housing set upCaseworkers prepare housing, furniture, and food for arrival.
II. Post ArrivalServices
(Arrival ~ 90 Days)
Assistance with access to benefits and
servicesCaseworkers assist refugees with
access to services such as medical services and food stamps.
Provision of basic needs and core
servicesThe affiliate is responsible for
ensuring that the refugee has food, medical care, and other needs met.
Case managementCaseworkers pick refugees up at
the airport and visit refugees in their homes.
III. R&P Complete
Refugee is in safe, stable environment.
Refugee can navigate appropriate and relevant systems
Refugee is connected to means of ongoing support for self/family
Refugee understands surroundings and situation
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Domestic Cultural OrientationRequired Topics
• The Role of the Local Resettlement Agency
• Refugee Status• English• Public Assistance• U.S. Laws• Your New Community• Employment• Health
• Budgeting and Personal Finance
• Housing• Hygiene• Safety• Cultural Adjustment• Education• Transportation
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
R&P Monitoring
• Monitor whether affiliate provided R&P services and whether refugee met R&P outcomes
• PRM monitors ~60 local affiliates per year (each affiliate is monitored at least every five years)
• Resettlement agencies monitor at least every three years
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Domestic Resettlement Challenges 2013
• Uneven community support for resettlement • Affordable housing• Employment• Increasing number of cases with serious medical needs
requiring additional services• Greater proportion of cases with US ties limits
placement flexibility• HHS/ORR budget challenges impact programs for
refugees
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
2013 Overseas Initiatives• Restore Iraqi arrivals to FY09/10 levels• Expand resettlement of Congolese refugees• Re-launch P-3 family reunion program• Implement new cultural orientation curriculum, outcomes and indicators• Restart Darfuri resettlement from Chad• Target funding to UNHCR to bolster capacity in Africa and maintain
Emergency Transit Centers• Launch pre-departure vaccinations in Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia, Kenya,
and Ethiopia• Issue rolling announcements of deadlines for Burmese in Thailand• ESL pilots in Thailand, Nepal, Kenya (round two)• Mentor Uruguay and Bulgaria in their resettlement programs• More efficient use of UNHCR Emergency Transit Centers
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State
2013 Domestic Initiatives
• Increase community outreach • Stronger collaboration with ORR• Continue incremental growth in R&P per capita funding
following doubling in 2010 ($1,875 in FY 2013)• Establish floor funding for 60,000 arrivals• Enhance sharing of refugee medical information prior to
arrival• Develop cultural orientation objectives and indicators,
curriculum, assessment tools www.culturalorientation.net• Make more information public www.wrapsnet.org