Structure

RCUSA is a member-driven coalition.  Its funding comes solely from member dues.  There are a number of standing committees that serve to structure the on-going work of the coalition.  In addition to these committees, members are informed daily through RCUSA communications about meetings, events, and other relevant information pertaining to refugee and displacement issues. 

General Council: The executives and/or officers from each member agency meet eight times per year in Washington, D.C. and New York to discuss the council’s work and reach consensus on key advocacy positions and other relevant issues.

Protection Committee: In support of the mission of RCUSA, the purpose of the Protection Committee is to preserve and strengthen protection domestically and internationally for refugees, asylum seekers, and other forced migrants.  Individual representatives from all of the member agencies participate in these meetings which are held monthly in Washington, D.C.  The Committee is currently chaired by Joan Timoney, Director of Advocacy and Government Relations, Women's Refugee Commission.

Advocacy Committee: This legislative advocacy committee meets bi-weekly in Washington, D.C.  Individuals from each member agency work together to increase the appropriations in the relevant refugee-related governmental funding accounts, advocate for legislation that will increase the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and other groups, and seek increased benefits for refugee resettlement services.  The group also works closely with the Bi-Partisan Congressional Refugee Caucus.  The Committee is currently chaired by Ana White, Immigration and Refugee Policy Analyst, The Episcopal Church.

Iraqi Refugee Work Group: Given the international and domestic attention toward this particular group of refugees, and the U.S.' special obligation to assist and protect Iraqi refugees, RCUSA formed this work group in June 2007.  It consists of all of the members of RCUSA as well as a much broader coalition of academics, think tanks, other NGOs, and those interested in and otherwise working on the Iraqi refugee issue.  It is chaired by Sarnata Reynolds, Policy Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights, Amnesty International USA.

Resettlement Committee: Individuals from each of the nine U.S. refugee resettlement agencies (Church World Service/Immigration & Refugee Program, Episcopal Migration Ministries, Ethiopian Community Development Council, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrations, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops/Migration and Refugee Services, and World Relief) meet monthly to address issues that directly impact the services provided to refugees.  It is also an opportunity to formulate common positions to relate to other federal and state partners in refugee services provision.  The Committee is currently chaired by Anastasia Brown, Director of Refugee Programs, Migration & Refugee Services/US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Material Support Work Group: The work group consists of individuals from all of the member agencies as well as broader coalition members and meets bi-weekly to discuss recent anti-terrorism laws that have inadvertently punished refugees and asylum seekers.  The group is currently focused on bringing about a legislative solution to the “material support to terrorism” and related bars that will allow refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants to be fully protected by the United States.  The Chair of this group is Melanie Nezer, Senior Director for U.S. Programs and Advocacy, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

Ad Hoc Work Groups and Task Forces:  RCUSA regularly forms ad hoc work groups and task forces to address specific issues of concern to its members.  Of recent there has been concentrated work on the Iraqi refugee issue, building stronger UN High Commissioner for Refugees and NGO partnerships, and increasing collaboration with other NGOs and coalitions.

Partnerships with Other Organizations:  Members of RCUSA work closely with similar refugee consortia throughout the world.  The coalition also meets regularly with federal, state, and international partners, including the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration in the Department of State, Office of Refugee Resettlement, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Organization for Migration.