Refugees 101
The Advocates for Human Rights is pleased
to involve your class or community group in a day to
learn about refugees in the United States.
© The Advocates for Human Rights 2008
Overview
• What makes someone a refugee?
• The refugee journey
• Refugees to the U.S. – numbers
and policies
• How and why we protect
refugees
Why do refugees leave
their countries?
Refugees / Asylees
Refugees and asylees leave
their countries because of
war or persecution due to
their nationality, race,
religion, political opinion or
membership in a group.
What is Persecution?
While there is no universally accepted
definition of persecution, threats to life
or freedom are always considered
persecution when they occur because of
a person’s:
• Race
• Religion
• Nationality
• Political opinion
• Membership in a particular social group
Persecution
Other serious violations of human rights
also constitute persecution, including:
• Slavery
• Prolonged detention without a charge
or trial
• Torture
• Overwhelming discrimination
Note: Not all unfair or unjust treatment is considered persecution. Assessments of
persecution are made on a case by case basis.
Persecution Is Based On:
•Race – Examples include Apartheid in South Africa, the Holocaust
and slavery.
•Religion – Could be forbidding membership in a religion or severe
discrimination for people who practice a religion.
•Nationality – Includes citizenship or membership in an ethnic or
linguistic group. Examples include Kurds in Iraq and ethnic groups in
the former Soviet Union.
•Membership in a particular social group – Examples include
members of a tribe, former government employees, or homosexuals.
•Political opinion – Examples include membership or activity in an
opposing political party.
What Is The Difference
Between a Refugee and an Asylee?
• A refugee receives
permission to come to the
U.S. from outside of the
country.
• Refugees are resettled with
the help of a refugee
resettlement agency.
• An asylee is already in the
U.S. when s/he applies for
protection.
• Asylees have to prove that
they have reason to fear
persecution in their home
country.
Major Resettlement Countries of Refugees
(by total number and ratio of refugees they accept)
Australia (10,722)…….1:2,000
Finland (724)…………….1:7,300
Canada (11,079)……....1:3,000
Denmark (472)…………1:11,700
Norway (1,397)………1:3,400
Ireland (144)……………1:30,600
Sweden (1,848)……….1:4,900
Netherlands (518)……...1:31,700
New Zealand (697)…...1:6,000
United Kingdom (498)...1:122,500
United States (48,281)...1:6,200
Argentina (83) ………...1:474,700
Total number of refugees worldwide
the end of 2007: 14,047,300
World Refugee Survey (2008)
at
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Q: What Must Threats to Life or Freedom Be
Based on In Order to Be Considered Persecution?
(Click for the answers)
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Race
Religion
Nationality
Membership in a particular social group
By nature of their situation, refugees have
to leave their homelands behind.
What would it feel like to leave YOUR
homeland behind?
Understanding The Journey of the Refugee
The following section of slides are adapted from Flight to Hope: A
Catholic Refugee Awareness Educational Project, Prepared by the
Catholic Consortium on Refugee Awareness Education (1990)
Pre-Escape
War, severe discrimination or
persecution often make it too
dangerous for people to remain in
their homeland. This stage is
characterized by:
•Fear of detection
•Anxiety about conditions
•Pressure about escape
•Fear of persecution
•Anticipated sadness over losses
Escape
Fearful for their safety or lives,
refugees are forced to flee. They may
leave secretly or are chased out.
Many die trying to escape. Those
lucky enough to escape their country
are considered refugees.
Illustration used with permission ©Peter Kuper
During their Escape, Refugees May Experience:
•Panic
•Fatigue
•Shock
•Separation
•Fear
•Fear of victimization
•Danger
•Fear of being
detected or caught
in the crossfire
•Hunger
The Refugee Camp
The average stay in a refugee camp
is years. Many camps are heavily
guarded, surrounded by barbed
wire. Refugees are sometimes
treated cruelly by guards. Most
camps are operated by the United
Nations and receive help from
donor countries. The refugees await
solutions to the problems in their
homelands.
The Refugee Camp Experience is Characterized By:
• Boredom
• Shock
• Depression
• Anger
•Hope mingled with
disappointment
•Adjustment to new
living conditions
•Hopelessness
• Fear of the
unknown
• Culture shock
• Survivor’s guilt
• Helplessness
•Powerlessness
•Self-doubt
•Struggle to meet
survival needs
•Confusion
Voluntary Repatriation
If changes happen in their homeland making it safe to return home,
refugees are repatriated. This is the first hope for those forced to
leave their homeland. Unfortunately, this seldom happens quickly, if
ever. The feelings repatriated refugees experience include:
•Fear of reprisal
•Anticipation of reunions with friends and family
•Fear that deaths of loved ones will be confirmed
•Fear that loss of possessions will be confirmed
•Fear of government’s intentions
•Concern about re-integration
Local Integration
Refugees are sometimes
allowed to leave the camps
and take residency in the host
country. This usually happens
when that country is a
neighbor of their own, where
the language and culture are
somewhat similar.
Interview for Resettlement
The United Nations officials interview people to determine if
their situation “qualifies” them as refugees. Only those who
can prove they are escaping persecution and are unable to
return home are eligible to ask to go to another country.
If they ask to go to the U.S., refugees are then interviewed by
the U.S. Refugee Program officials and U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services officials to determine if they meet our
eligibility requirements. The U.S. is stricter than the U.N. For
instance, fleeing due to famine is considered economic
migration not persecution by the U.S.
Approval and Flight
Refugees who are approved to
come to the U.S. are given a
health screening and cultural
orientation.
Refugees sign a travel loan
document agreeing to pay back
the cost of the flight.
Arrival in the U.S.
As refugees come to the U.S., they
are assigned to a Refugee
Resettlement Agency where they
receive assistance and guidance as
they begin their new lives.
The Voluntary Resettlement Agencies
(VOLAGs) accredited to resettle
refugees provide
days of service
through the Department of State and
then provide after-care services.
Ongoing services may include public
assistance, medical assistance, housing,
job training, mental health, education.
When Refugees are Resettled, They May Face:
•The fact of never going home
•Loss of family and friends
•Loss of familiar culture
•Anxiety over discrimination in
host country
•Concern over cultural adaptation
•Concern for economic survival
•Daily Survival Issues
•Language barriers
Refugees to the U.S.
Each year, the federal
government determines
how many refugees will be
allowed to enter. The
recent yearly refugee cap
has been 70,000.
According to the Department
of Homeland Security, the
actual number of refugees
resettled in 2006 was
41,150.
Refugees to the U.S. at the End of 2007
(by Country of Origin)
China:
16,800
Iran:
3,900
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
India:
2,800
Total number of refugees in the U.S.
at the end of 2007: 151,200
World Refugee Survey (2008)
26
QUIZ TIME!
Q:What Phases Might A Refugee Go Through
During His or Her Journey?
(Click for the answers)
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Pre-escape
Escape
Stay in a refugee camp
Voluntary repatriation
Local integration
Resettlement in another country
What Do You Think? Can a Refugee to the U.S. ...
Stay in the
U.S. forever?
Legally work
in the U.S.?
Sponsor a
family
member to
come to the
U.S?
Become
a U.S.
citizen?
After Refugees Have Been in the U.S.
for 1 Year,They May Apply to Become
Lawful Permanent Residents
• Lawful permanent
residents have permission
to remain in the U.S. for
as long as they choose.
• They must keep take out
permission for their green
card every 10 years and
remain crime free.
• They can sponsor their
spouse and unmarried
children to join them in
the U.S.
Employment
• Refugees in the U.S. are
authorized to work.
• They may be eligible for
employment counseling and
referrals through their
resettlement agency.
• Often, the training and
licenses for the profession
refugees did in their home
country are not accepted in
the U.S.
Lawful Permanent Residents
May Become U.S. Citizens
Eligible refugees may choose to
go through the process of
to become a U.S. citizen.
To Become a Naturalized Citizen, One Must:
• Have a green card for either 3
or 5 years based on your
particular situation.
• Be physically present in the U.S.
for 2.5 years.
• Pay an application fee of $675.
• Pass the citizenship test.
• Pass the interview in English.
• Swear to the judge you will
follow the laws of the U.S.
• Be of good moral character (e.g.,
no serious crimes).
Which States Resettle the Most Refugees?
Can you guess the top 10 states of
resettlement in the U.S.?
Where would YOUR state rank in
resettlement?
Top 10 States for Refugee Resettlement in 2005
State
Total Arrivals % of U.S. Arrivals
California
Minnesota
7,516
6,357
13.97%
11.81%
Florida
Texas
Washington
4,793
3,245
2,847
8.91%
6.03%
5.29%
New York
Arizona
Georgia
Wisconsin
2,568
1,872
1,870
1,851
4.77%
3.48%
3.47%
3.44%
Ohio
1,560
2.90%
U.S. Department of State
States Ranked by Refugees Resettled
1 Califor.
11 Penns.
21 Kent.
31 Louis.
41 Alab.
2 Minn.
12 Illinois
22 Maryl.
32 R. Isl.
42 N. Mex
3 Florida
13 Mass.
23 Utah
33 N. Dak.
43 Alaska
4 Texas
14 Virgin.
24 N. Jers.
34 Nebras.
44 D.C.
5 Wash.
15 N.Car.
25 Idaho
35 S. Dak.
45 Haw.
6 N.York
16 Oregon 26 Conn.
36 Verm.
46 Delaw.
7 Arizona
17 Missou. 27 Indiana
37 Maine
47 Ark.
8 Georgia
18 Color.
28 Iowa
38 Kansas
48 Mont.
9 Wiscon.
19 Mich.
29 N. Ham
39 Oklah.
49 W.Vir
10 Ohio
20 Tenn.
30 Nevada
40 S. Car.
50 Missis.
U.S. Department of State
Why Should We Protect Refugees?
International Laws Protect Refugees
• U.N. 1951 Convention relating to the
Status of Refugees (April 22, 1954)
– Defines who is a refugee
– Sets out rights of refugees
– Establishes standards of treatment
by receiving countries
– Limited to pre-1951 European
refugees
• 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of
Refugees (October 4, 1967)
– Removes geographic and time
limitations of above-mentioned
Convention
Principal of Non-Refoulement
Under the international human
rights principle of nonrefoulement, a country cannot
deport an alien in any manner to
a territory where his or her life
or freedom would be threatened
on account of his or her race,
religion, nationality, membership
in particular social group, or
political opinion.
United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951, Article 33; Convention
Against Torture, Article 3; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 5
What ideas do YOU have about how to
make your world better for refugees?
For More Information,
Visit Energy of a Nation on the Web!
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Obtain accurate and up-todate information about immigrants
and refugees.
Learn about current legislation.
Take action by contacting leaders
and lawmakers.
Participate in community events.
Learn about the issues.
Access reports and resources on
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© The Advocates for Human Rights 2008