U.S. Refugee Resettlement & Integration

U.S. Refugee Resettlement & Integration

Susan Kyle, Program Officer for Domestic ResettlementOffice of Admissions,

Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration

U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration

Bureau of Population, Refugees,

and MigrationBureau of

Population, Refugees, and Migration


and Migration

U.S. Refugee Admissions Program - U.S. Refugee Admissions Program - OverviewOverview

One component of large legal immigration program• In 2010, total legal immigration was ~1,000,000 persons• Most (900,000) were relatives of persons in the U.S. or had job

offers from U.S. employers• 10% were granted asylum (25,000) or admitted to the U.S. as

refugees (75,000)Refugee Admission numbers rise and fall depending on need, volume of

referrals, and capacity to process.• Since 1975, nearly 3 million refugees have been admitted to the

U.S.; • Highest level – 207,000 in 1980 and 159,000 in 1981• Lowest level – 20,000 in 1977 and 27,000 in 2002


and Migration


and Migration

U.S. Refugee AdmissionsU.S. Refugee AdmissionsFY 2006 – FY2012FY 2006 – FY2012

Region of Origin

FY 2007 Arrivals

FY2008 Arrivals

FY2009 Arrivals

FY2010 Arrivals

FY2011 Arrivals

FY 2012Ceiling

Africa 17,482 8,935 9,670 13,305 7,685 12,000

East Asia 15,643 19,489 19,850 17,716 17,367 18,000

Europe 4,561 2,343 1,997 1,526 1,228 2,000

L. America/Caribbean

2,976 4,277 4,857 4,982 2,976 5,500

Near East/South Asia

7,619 25,148 38,280 35,782 27,168 35,500

Total 48,281 60,192 74,654 73,311 56,424 73,000 + unallocated


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Basic Approach to Basic Approach to Resettlement & IntegrationResettlement & Integration

• Public – Private partnership– Government, NGOs, local communities

• Integrate refugees through early employment– Time-limited public assistance

• Diverse placement and programs


and Migration


and Migration

U.S. Government PartnersU.S. Government PartnersDOS/PRM: •Develops policy and overall manager of the USRAP. •Responsible for resettlement and initial support to refugees post-arrival through NGOs (arrival to 3 months). DHS/USCIS: •Officers determine eligibility for admission, adjustment to legal permanent residence (after 1 year), and citizenship (after 5 years)HHS/ORR: •Administers cash, medical, and social service programs through state governments and NGOs (arrival to 5 years)Congress: •Consulted on annual refugee admissions and appropriator


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NGOs and Local PartnersNGOs and Local PartnersDomestic NGOs: • For DOS provide initial reception and placement services• For HHS provide on-going resettlement and integration

services

State and Local Governments: • Provide cash, medical, employment services, ESL, education

and training, transportation, and other services

Local Communities: • Provide resources that assist with resettlement and integration• Welcome and learn from refugees


and Migration

Elements & Programs of IntegrationElements & Programs of Integration• Legal status• Employment• Housing• Education• Health• Language and cultural acquisition• Civic engagement


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Research and WorkgroupsResearch and Workgroups


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U.S. Government:• HHS: Integration Working Group & Study on Social

Services Programs• DHS: Task Force for New Americans• NSS: Domestic Resettlement ReformState Government: • Minnesota: Performance outcomes and research• Idaho: Strategic community planNGOs: • Church World Service: Research• International Rescue Committee: Framework

ChallengesChallenges• Diverse and limited resources• Limited research on long-term outcomes and

integration• No single definition of integration• No standard outcomes for all refugee programs


and Migration

SuccessesSuccesses• Diverse creative multi-sector programs and services• Welcoming communities• Refugees become active community members

Documents

U.S. Refugee Resettlement & Integration