Refugee Resettlement and Integration

Thank you for the opportunity to describe in brief our integration efforts for refugees resettled to the United States. An important foreign policy goal of the United States is to assist refugees worldwide and resettlement is a key part of this policy. The United States benefits from the millions of refugees who have come at different parts of our history and made enormous contributions to our political, economic, cultural, and religious life. Notable refugees to the United States include Nobel Prize winner and scientist Albert Einstein and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The modern formalized integration of refugees in the United States is a critical component of the success of the U.S. admission program. The U.S. probably spends more effort and resources integrating refugees than any other immigrant group.

The legal basis of the refugee admissions program is the Refugee Act of 1980, which formalized the longstanding American tradition of granting refuge to persons in need. Since 1975, we have provided resettlement to more than 2.5 million refugees. In FY 2004, we resettled 52,868 from 65 countries.

Eligibility for refugee status is decided on a case-by-case basis by personal interviews conducted by officers from the Department of Homeland Security. Those found eligible for refugee status and their immediate family members have medical examinations and security checks performed in advance of their arrival. All refugees must be admissible to the United States under U.S. law so they are asked a series of questions as a part of the admissions process.

Once determined to be eligible for resettlement, the process of integration into the United States begins, even before the refugee arrives. While awaiting transport to the United States, refugees receive cultural orientation classes, which can range from a two-hour information session to two-weeks of interactive and experiential activities to provide a brief introduction to the United States culture and infrastructure. Refugees are oriented, generally in their own language, on a wide range of topics, including the types of services and benefits a refugee can expect upon arrival, traveling on an airplane and negotiating the U.S. culture ranging from a basic understanding of our practices and laws to using electrical appliances.

Refugees are resettled throughout the United States. The U.S. Government has entered into cooperative agreements with nine non-governmental organizations, six of which are faith-based, and the State of Iowa, which receive federal funding and work together to determine where particular families are resettled, and consider many factors. These factors include whether the refugees have any family members in the United States, the extent to which established groups of the refugee’s ethnic group or nationality already reside in an area, and the capacity of a particular agency to assist certain ethnic groups or cases with special needs. Considering these factors ensure that the refugees receive the best services possible and will integrate successfully in the United States.

These nine agencies have a network of some 387 affiliates located in 49 states across the U.S. to receive refugees and integrate refugees, every U.S. state except Wyoming. The network also extends to the U.S. territory Guam and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The affiliates have partnerships with local donors, volunteers, congregations and community organizations to provide a full range of services to the refugees. Typical services received by refugees upon arrival to the United States include housing, essential furnishings, clothing, food and other non-food items, community orientation, English language training, referral to health programs and screening, assistance in enrolling children in school, and job skill training and placement.

Refugees are eligible to work immediately upon arrival to the United States. An important U.S. Government priority is to promote economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible, so as to limit the need for public assistance. We believe that refugees welcome the opportunity to work and their work contributes to the diversity and enrichment of our country as previous newcomers have done. The United States relies strongly on the principle of creating opportunities for refugees and requiring in return the commitment of the refugees to the program. For example, while transportation arrangements to the U.S. are made through IOM, refugees are expected to repay the cost of their transportation. This ensures that other refugees in need of protection through resettlement to the United States can receive it.