U.S. Refugee Resettlement & Integration

1. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Refugee Resettlement & Integration Susan Kyle, Program Officer for Domestic Resettlement Office of Admissions, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Department of State

2. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Refugee Admissions Program - Overview 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

3. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Refugee AdmissionsFY 2006 – FY2012

5. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Basic Approach to Resettlement & Integration • Public – Private partnership • Government, NGOs, local communities • Integrate refugees through early employment • Time-limited public assistance • Diverse placement and programs

6. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration U.S. Government Partners • DOS/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

7. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration NGOs and Local Partners Domestic 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

8. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Elements & Programs of Integration • Legal status • Employment • Housing • Education • Health • Language and cultural acquisition • Civic engagement

9. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Research and Workgroups • U.S. Government: • HHS: Integration Working Group & Study on Social Services Programs • DHS: Task Force for New Americans • NSS: Domestic Resettlement Reform • State Government: • Minnesota: Performance outcomes and research • Idaho: Strategic community plan • NGOs: • Church World Service: Research • International Rescue Committee: Framework

10. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Challenges • Diverse and limited resources • Limited research on long-term outcomes and integration • No single definition of integration • No standard outcomes for all refugee programs Successes • Diverse creative multi-sector programs and services • Welcoming communities • Refugees become active community members