In-Country Processing for Children from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador Sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), HIAS, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Jesuit Conference USA, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) Church World Service (CWS), Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), HIAS, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Jesuit Conference USA, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Agenda 9:30 Introductions, context, overview of agenda Naomi Steinberg, RCUSA and Greg Chen, AILA 9:45 Background: children & families fleeing violence in Central America, Q&A Mary DeLorey, Jesuit Conference; Aryah Somers, KIND; and Leslie Velez, UNHCR 10:35 Background on the U.S. refugee resettlement program, Q&A Stacie Blake, USCRI 11:05 Central American Minors Affidavit of Relationship program, Q&A Anastasia Brown, USCCB 12:10 Protection concerns & advocacy issues, Q&A Anna Greene, IRC; Joanne Kelsey, LIRS; Bill Frelick, HRW 1:00 Q&A and conversation on resources needed, next steps, lunch provided 1:30 Adjourn

THE U.S. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM

U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program A r efugee is any person who has fled their country of nationality or habitual residence and is unwilling or unable to return because of a well-founded fear of persecution. To qualify as a refugee under international and U.S. law, a person must prove that the persecution feared is due to one of 5 grounds: efugee Race Religion Nationality Political opinion Membership in a particular social group

Are there other in-country programs? Eurasia and the Baltics Applies to Jews, Evangelical Christians, and Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox religious adherents identified in the Lautenberg Amendment, with close family in the United States. Cuba: human rights activists, members of persecuted religious minorities, former political prisoners, forced-labor conscripts, and persons deprived of their professional credentials or subjected to other disproportionately harsh or discriminatory treatment resulting from their perceived or actual political or religious beliefs. Iraqis Associated with the United States: includes those set forth in the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act, employees of the U.S. Government, a U.S. government funded contractor or grantee, U.S. media or U.S. NGOs working in Iraq, and certain family members of such employees, as well as beneficiaries of approved I-130 petitions, are eligible for refugee processing in Iraq. Minors in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala: certain lawfully present qualifying relatives in the United States could Request access to a refugee interview for an unmarried child under 21 in his/her country of origin. Are there other in-country programs?

Refugee Resettlement in the U.S. United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) –Refugee Support Centers (RSCs): run by NGOs, contract w/ PRM –Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGs): 9 NGOs that contract with PRM DHS’s Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – Refugee Affairs Division (RAD) Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) –VOLAGs contract with ORR to resettle refugees through a network of local resettlement offices / affiliates –Every state has a State Refugee Coordinator (not WY)

National Refugee Resettlement Agencies or “Voluntary Agencies” (VOLAGS) Nine VOLAGs resettle refugees via their networks of affiliates / local offices across the U.S. that welcome refugees and provide them initial services:

Refugee Resettlement

U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Africa 17,000 East Asia 13,000 Europe and Central Asia 1,000 Latin America/Caribbean 4,000* Near East/South Asia 33,000 Regional Subtotal 68,000 Unallocated Reserve 2,000 Total 70,000 *includes an estimated 3,250 in-country Cubans and minors in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Most refugees resettled to the U.S. today are from: Burma / Myanmar Bhutan Iraq Afghanistan Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Somalia Sudan Cuba Iran Proposed Admissions for FY2015

U.S. Refugee Admissions Program State Department Annual Refugee Admissions Priorities Determines who can apply for the US Refugee Admissions Program, often working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Application/ interview overseas Refugee Support Centers run by NGOs contracting with the State Department help refugees prepare applications. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, Department of Homeland Security) conducts interviews and background checks to determine if applicants meet the refugee definition and are admissible to the U.S. Admission to the US Reception and Placement assistance through national resettlement agencies; supplemental support through Office of Refugee Resettlement (Health & Human Services)

Refugeesinamerica.org

Upon arrival in the United States The local resettlement office welcomes the refugee at the airport. The R&P grant is provided for the first 3 months after arrival. Within the first 30-days refugees must: -Apply for a SSN -Enroll kids in school -Get a medical evaluation -Begin learning English Local resettlement offices assist in English classes, employment and self- sufficiency through programs funded by ORR Refugees are given permission to work in the U.S. upon arrival and are expected to obtain employment within 4-8 months of arrival After 1-year refugees are allowed and required to apply for lawful permanent residency (LPR), known as a “green card”. After 5-years a refugee who has LPR can apply to become a U.S. Citizen by taking a test in English and civics and paying the fees

Local Resettlement Offices