Understanding Human Rights and the Refugee Story
© The Advocates for Human Rights 2008
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Overview
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Advocates for Human Rights
Refugees and Asylees
The Refugee Journey
How and why we should protect
refugees and asylees
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The Advocates
for Human Rights
Who we are and what we do
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The Advocates for Human Rights
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity
and of the equal and inalienable rights o fall
members of the human family is the foundation
of freedom, justice and peace…”
-The UDHR was created in 1948
-First document to recognize universal human rights
inherent to every human being
-30 articles
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Refugees:
Who, What, Where, & Why
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Who is a Refugee?
1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
“a person who is outside his/her
country of nationality or habitual
residence; has a well-founded fear
of persecution because of his/her
race, religion, nationality, membership
in a particular social group or political
opinion; and is unable or unwilling
to avail himself/herself of the
protection of that country, or to
return there, for fear of persecution.”
ARNI / UN Archives / CH2265 Accessed at unhcr.org
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What’s the difference?
Refugee vs. Asylee
Both “Refugee” and “Asylee” refer to a status grounded in a
“well-founded fear of persecution” due to race, religion, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Refugee
Must apply for admission to the
U.S. Refugee Program while
overseas in another country
than their own
All processing, applications,
waivers, registration, etc. must
be completed before the
person arrives in the United
States
Asylee
Applicant has already gained
entry to the United States (i.e.
work, tourist, student visa) and
is afraid to return to their
home country due to fear of
persecution
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Not to be confused with…
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)Also forced to flea their homes, but remain within the borders of their
home country;
24.5 million in at least 52 countries (including in America)
Stateless PersonsPerson with no citizenship or nationality
Maybe because state has ceased to exist with no successor state; or
person born into disputed territory
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)Person is in the United States (i.e. tourist, student, work visa) and is
afraid to return home because of “temporary” problem (i.e. natural
disaster, armed conflict or other ‘temporary’ conditions’)
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Where do Refugees come from?
Top 10 Nationalities of Refugees in the U.S.
China:
16,800
Iran:
Haiti:
12,300
Guatemala: 3,400
Nicaragua: 2,400
Cuba:
11,700
Vietnam:
3,400
Myanmar: 2,200
Somalia: 11,600
Ethiopia:
3,200
Sudan:
2,200
Colombia: 8,200
Indonesia:
3,100
Other:
42,800
Russia:
8,100
Ukraine:
3,100
Liberia:
6,900
Venezuela:
3,100
Source: World Refugee Survey 2008
3,900
India:
2,800
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Where do Refugees come from?
A Look at Minnesota
Source: Refugee Health Program
Minnesota Department of Health 2007
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Where do Refugees go?
Major Refugee-Hosting Countries: End of 2007
Source: UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) “2007 Global Trends” Published June 2008
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Where do Refugees go?
Refugee Arrivals by State of Residence (2007)
Florida
2,691
New York
2,978
Minnesota
3,198
Texas
4,394
Californa
6,699
0
2,000
Source: US Department of State (Bureau of Population,
Refugees, and Migration (PRM)
4,000
6,000
8,000
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Where do Refugees go?
A Look at Minnesota
Source: Refugee Health Program
Minnesota Department of Health
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Why the United States?
What are some of the
factors that “push”
people out of their
countries of origin, and
“pull” them to a country
of destination?
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Why Minnesota?
MN has many Voluntary
Resettlement Agencies or VOLAGs
• Catholic Charities
• International Institute of Minnesota
• Lutheran Social Service of
Minnesota
• Refugee Services of the MN
Council of Churches
MN only takes refugees
who have an anchor
relative already in MN
MN Department of Health (2008)
• World Relief Minnesota
• Jewish Family & Children's
Service
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Who gets to come to the U.S.?
Understanding Refugee Visas
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“Refugee Ceiling”
Each fiscal year, President sends proposal “Report to Congress” of
maximum number of refugees allowed
Ceiling for refugee visas in Fiscal Year 2008: 80,000
Broken up into “Regional Programs”
Africa, East Asia, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the
Caribbean, Near East and South Asia
further broken up by “Priority”
1. Individual Referrals
2. Group Referrals
3. Family Reunification
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For example…
Source: Proposed Refugee Admissions for 2008; Report to
Congress
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The Refugee Journey
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But First…
Refugees may have to leave their
home lands without warning.They
may have to walk extremely long
distances to escape danger.
Imagine that you have to flee
Minnesota on foot.You have two
hours to pack.Take 2 minutes to
make a list of 3 things that you
would bring and be prepared to
explain your reasons.
www.energyofanation.org
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Refugee Camp
Register with the Untied Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to
apply for “refugee status”
The average stay in a Refugee Camp is
5-10 years.
Many camps are heavily guarded and
surrounded by barbed wire.
Refugees are often cruelly treated by guards.
Refugees await solutions to problems in
their homeland.
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Refugee Camp: How would you feel?
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What happens next?
Refugee Camp
Voluntary Repatriation
Rolling Stone
Local Integration
Resettlement
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Voluntary Repatriation
Refugee is repatriated to their home country after conflict/fear
of persecution is resolved. Conditions have changed sufficiently;
allows the return of the majority in safety and dignity.
-the return must be lasting and sustainable
-the return must take place without forces pushing refugees to leave
or barriers preventing return
-the return can take place under conditions of :
legal safety – absence of discrimination, freedom from persecution
physical safety - freedom from attack, safe routes of return
material safety – a means of livelihood and access to basic service
Best case scenario, but is very rare in occurrence
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Local Integration
Some refugees are allowed to leave refugee camp to
resettle in the country of asylum
Usually happens when countries are neighbors, share
similar cultures or language
Can cause culture shock or tensions between
refugees and citizens of their new country
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Resettlement
-UNHCR refers only about 1% of refugees for
resettlement in third country
-Family ties, trade skills, professional abilities, language,
and various factors are considered by UNHCR when
matching a refugee to a resettlement country
-Countries with resettlement programs: Australia,
Canada, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, New
Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and the U.S.
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Seeking Admission to the U.S. Resettlement Program
•
Meet U.S. eligibility requirements to apply
•
Get referred by UNHCR or the U.S. Embassy
•
Fill out INS I-590 Form
•
Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) compiles file,
establishes priority, forwards to U.S. Embassy
•
Interview with INS Officer
•
Background and medical checks
•
Interview with Department of Homeland Security
•
Passing applications go to State Department
•
In some cases, final interviews with CIA and/or FBI
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Pre-Travel Requirements
1. Assurance Process – U.S. resettlement agency guarantees
they are prepared to receive each refugee
2. Medical Clearance – some conditions may make refugee
ineligible
3. Security Clearance – depends on country of origin
4. Cultural Orientation – emphasize importance of self
reliance; classes a few hours-several days
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Travel
The International
Organization for Migration
(IOM) arranges air travel
Before leaving, refugee signs a
promissory note promising
to repay IOM for travel costs
starting 6 months after their
arrival
www.amblusaka.um.dk
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Arrival in the U.S.
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First steps in U.S. Resettlement
Apply for Social Security Number
School Registration
Medical Evaluation
English Language Training
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Federal Assistance for Refugees and Asylees
A.
B.
C.
D.
Fact Sheet: Differential
Exempt from time requirements
on TANF, SSI, and Medicaid
Eligible for food stamps (as with
everyone else)
In the first 90 days, private
VOLAGS contract with the
Department of State to provide
food, housing, employment,
medical care, and counseling to
help with self-sufficiency
Certain refugees also qualify for
cash and medical assistance
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Becoming a Full Member of the Community
•Finding Employment – U.S. government expects all working
age adults to find a job within 6 months of arrival
•Gaining Permanent Residency – can apply for Permanent
Resident Alien (PRA) status (green card) after one year
•Becoming a Citizen – can apply for citizenship after living in
the U.S. for 5 years
•Building a New Life – spend many years overcoming past
trauma, locating family members, adjusting to American culture,
building careers, raising family, and becoming a part of their new
communities
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Local Integration: How would you feel?
•Loss
•Anxiety
•Loss of culture
•Language Barriers
•Concern
•Faced with the reality
that you may never go
home
•Loss of friends and
family
•Concerns over
cultural adaptation
•Daily survival
issues
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Human Rights and Refugees
Article 13: Right to free movement in and out of the
Country
Article 14: Right to seek and to enjoy asylum from
persecution
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Human Rights
Human rights violations are a main reason behind the
mass exodus of people from a country
Refugees have rights which should be respected
prior to, during, and after the process of seeking
asylum
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Human Rights
• Human rights apply to everyone
• International ethical standards uphold the
minimum requirements
• Human rights can’t be taken away, aren’t
based on status or official recognition
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Refugees require extra protection
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael
Chertoff recently described refugees as “the world’s
most vulnerable people,” emphasizing that the
“United States is deeply committed to protecting
and assisting refugees” as a vital component of the
goal of securing our homeland.
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Non-Refoulment
Reinforces the urgency of protecting Refugees
Protects refugees from being deported back to a place
where they are in danger of being persecuted or
tortured
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Take Action! What can you do?
Write articles for your school or community newspaper
Advocate
Volunteer- Opportunities right here at SeAM
Increase awareness of refugee and immigrant issues
Participate in World Refugee Day
Saturday, June 20- events here in Twin Cities!
http://tcworldrefugeeday.org/
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Ways to Learn More About Refugees and Immigrants
Energy of a Nation Web-site
A. Fact sheets
B. Legislative updates
C. Breaking news
D. Reports
www.energyofanation.org
www.energyofanation.org
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Other Resources
- U.N. Refugee Agency: www.unhcr.org
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants: www.refugees.org
- Center for Victims of Torture: www.cvt.org
- Minnesota Department of State Refugee Health:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/refugee/
- Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org/
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Questions? Comments?
Thank you!
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Understanding Human Rights and the Refugee Story
Southeast Asian Ministry
February 7, 2009
Rebecca Riedell
© The Advocates for Human Rights 2008
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