U.S. Public Committments to Iraqi Refugees

August 27, 2007 

Approximately 2.2 million Iraqis are displaced within their own country and another 2.5 million refugees have fled Iraq.  This displacement crisis is continuing to worsen as an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 people reportedly flee violence and persecution in Iraq each month.  According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 2,000 people are fleeing to Syria each day. These refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are targets of persecution due to their political opinions, ethnicities, religious affiliations, and sexual orientations, to name just a few factors.  Many of the Iraqi refugees and IDPs fear persecution because they worked closely with and helped the U.S. military, U.S. contractors, and humanitarian organizations. 

On February 5, 2007, Secretary Rice established a senior-level State Department task force to address the plight of Iraqi refugees and IDPs.[1]  After announcing that the U.S. would accept up to 7,000 Iraqi refugee referrals from the UNHCR (which were provided by June 2007), on March 6, 2007, Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey stated, "There’s no cap or quota on compassion.  There’s no limit on the number of refugees that we will consider for resettlement."[2]  In April 2007 Assistant Secretary Sauerbrey asserted the United States “could resettle up to 25,000 Iraqi refugees” this year.[3]  In May 2007 Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky affirmed, “We are committed to honoring our moral debt to those Iraqis who have provided assistance to the United States and embassy.”[4]   In August 2007 Assistant Secretary Sauerbrey stated that the U.S. expects 2,000 Iraqi refugee arrivals by the end of September.[5] 

Despite these pledges since April 2003 the U.S. has resettled only 753 Iraqi refugees and a measly 190 in 2007.[6]  Legislation is critically needed to address the massive displacement of Iraqis and ensure that the U.S. meets its promise to protect Iraqi refugees.

 

[1] http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=20070206135046ndyblehs0.2322657

[2] http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=March&x=20070306155653adynned0.1355097

[3] http://geneva.usmission.gov/Press2007/0417DobrianskyPress.html

[4] http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=110-h20070522-39&person=400220

[5] http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/28/africa/ME-GEN-Jordan-US-Iraq.php

[6] http://www.wrapsnet.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=JLFY1Pu2uho%3d&tabid=211&mid=630