Reform of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

The U.S. Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Program is antiquated and in need of urgent reform.  It has been thirty years since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980.  This law was drafted in the context of the large scale resettlement of refugees from South East Asia, a relatively homogenous group.  Today the program admits individuals and groups from every region of the world and includes torture survivors, unaccompanied minor children, and victims of sexual and gender based violence.  Some refugees have lived in camps for decades and others have been deprived of basic human rights, including the freedom of movement. 

Moreover, the socio-economic realities of the U.S. have also changed dramatically over the last thirty years. The welfare system has been drastically scaled back, leaving almost no social safety net for newly arrived refugees unable to find work.  These changes are exacerbated by the recent and ongoing economic downturn which has made daily life difficult for many Americans. Unlike many Americans, however, refugees are newcomers and have not had time to build the social networks necessary that can help insulate families from tough economic times.  That is why it is important that refugees receive adequate support upon arrival so that they have the tools they need to succeed.

Modernizing the Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Program
Over the past thirty years the program has become increasingly complex and multifaceted.  The U.S. has shifted from working to resettle refugees from a limited number of geographical regions to almost every region of the world.  Access to the program, registration, collection of bio-data, medical clearances, and security screening procedures has become more complicated and cumbersome. Too often there is little coordination and information sharing between overseas actors and domestic resettlement agencies which can inhibit proper planning and lead to poor resettlement outcomes. When admitting refugees, the federal government assumes responsibility for assisting communities in resettling refugees and helping them to become self-sufficient contributing members of our society. Thirty years ago refugees received a minimum of a year and a half of federal transition assistance and were entitled to up to three years of reimbursement for cash and medical payments.  Today, however, refugees receive a maximum of eight months of federal assistance at which point they are expected—regardless of their medical needs or disabilities—to be employed and fully independent.

Reform Needed Now
Increased coordination and communication and a more reflexive management of the admissions and resettlement programs will help ensure that refugees in need of protection have access to the program, that the link between overseas and domestic resettlement is restored, and that the U.S. is a stronger leader in 21st century refugee protection.  Resettlement can be a life saving tool but only if the U.S. is equipped to respond quickly and effectively to emerging crises. Refugees who have endured confinement in camps for decades, isolated from the world, deserve a chance to live again and have their social and political rights restored.

When given a basic foundation from which to rebuild their lives, refugees have become successful entrepreneurs, engines of economic growth, and harvesters of fallow land. All of this and more is possible when refugees are given basic tools to begin anew.  It is past time to modernize the antiquated architecture of the refugee program by ensuring fair access to the program, strong oversight, smooth and even flow of arrivals, rapid response to acute and volatile situations, continuity between pre and post arrival services, family unity, and an elevated and more prominent role for ORR.

To learn more, see reports about the U.S. refugee resettlement program:

The United States Refugee Admissions Program: Reforms for a New Era of Refugee Resettlement, David Martin

Resettlement at Risk: Meeting Emerging Challenges to Refugee Resettlement in Local Communities, HIAS

Refugee Resettlement in the United States: An Examination of Challenges and Proposed Solutions, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Renewing U.S. Commitment to Refugee Protection: Recommendations for Reform on the 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act, Human Rights First

Impact of the Recession on Refugee Resettlement, Church World Service

The Real Cost of Welcome: A Financial Analysis of Local Refugee Reception, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

 

Photo credits: (Top) David Snyder/CRS; (Bottom) EMM