Commonly Asked Questions about Refugees
Who is a refugee?
Under U.S. law, a refugee is a person who is forced to flee his or her home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of being persecuted on account of his or her nationality, race, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Refugees do not voluntarily choose to migrate but instead do so out of immediate necessity – often in the context of civil unrest, armed conflict, or other violence motivated by one of the five factors listed above and carried out by a state actor, an individual colluding with the state, or an individual whom the state cannot control.
What is the current state of the refugee system internationally?
Current levels of displacement are some of the highest ever recorded. Worldwide, there are 65.3 million people who have been forced out of their homes (with an estimated 34,000 people displaced per day). While the majority of forced migrants remain in their home countries, 22 million have been forced to flee and seek refuge in other countries. Over half of these refugees are under the age of 18.
The United States has traditionally been at the cornerstone of the international humanitarian system that protects refugees who so desperately need help. Many nations have each generously welcomed an average of more than 1 million refugees. However, more than 86% of the world’s refugees live in countries which struggle to afford access to basic needs for their own people. And, humanitarian needs have only increased in the last year. Since late 2017, more than 650,000 people have fled Rakhine State for Bangladesh, and over one million people have fled Venezuela.
Supporting refugees around the world by ensuring protection of funding for international humanitarian and development assistance expresses our solidarity with them and with the generous nations that welcome them. When we educate refugee children, we give them a chance to contribute to their communities and reduce their vulnerability to human trafficking. When we help parents provide for their families, we reduce the likelihood that they will turn to child labor or early child marriage. Supporting refugees also helps diminish the strain on host communities. It’s vitally important that we protect funding that supports refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers overseas, and funding that addresses the root causes of migration.
Only those individuals who are considered to be the most vulnerable are referred for resettlement in a third country. Despite the extent of global displacement, less than 1% of refugees are submitted for resettlement worldwide. The United States traditionally resettles over half of these individuals. In Fiscal Year 2016, the United States resettled just over 53,000 refugees, with the most coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, Ethiopia, Syria and Iraq. In recent years, there has also been an increased flow of refugees from Central America to the United States.
How does the processing system work?
The international community has traditionally promoted three durable solutions to displacement situations: (1) voluntary repatriation, (2) integration into the country of first asylum, or (3) resettlement into a third country. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) works to find the best solution for each displaced person on an individual basis.
UNHCR is generally responsible for identifying and designating individuals as refugees. UNHCR assists in ensuring the safety and well-being of refugees as they await a placement determination. However, temporary protection for refugees remains a challenge for the international community. Not only do refugees often have to endure life-threatening conditions in order to arrive at their first host country, but, once there, they usually live in confined refugee camp sites or in urban settings, sometimes for as long as a decade.
How Does Refugee Resettlement Work in the United States?
Each year, the President of the United States authorizes the admission of a certain number of refugees into the country. This number, described as the “Presidential Determination” is based on a consultative process between Congress, the President, and various federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS). A refugee is typically referred to the United States by UNHCR, an embassy, or an authorized non-governmental organization (NGO). A government-funded Resettlement
Support Center (RNC) then facilitates the application process by completing application paperwork and gathering biometric and biographical information needed for the determination and vetting process. During this application process, which typically takes 18 to 24 months to complete, the prospective refugee remains outside of the United States.
Prospective refugees to the United States undergo a rigorous and thorough screening process that includes vetting through databases held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Defense, DOS, and DHS. [iv] In addition, the refugee is interviewed by a highly-trained U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer to determine eligibility to the U.S. resettlement program and admissibility to the country. Further review is conducted if an individual’s application raises safety or national security concerns and, ultimately, he or she will not be resettled in the United States if such concerns are not resolved. Once USCIS conditionally approves the applicant, he or she must complete a medical examination. Those individuals who receive approval for resettlement undergo a final screening by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to entry into the country.
Admitted refugees are assigned to an experienced resettlement agency in the U.S. prior to arrival in order to help ensure their welcome and successful integration into our country. Once in the United States, refugees engage in cultural orientation, English lessons, medical evaluations, and other forms of social support through the resettlement community and other organizations.
What is the Catholic Church’s teaching on refugees?
It is a core Catholic teaching that every human being is created in the image of God and is therefore entitled to dignity and respect. The Catholic Church views assisting those in need as a fundamental Christian duty that is derived directly from the life of mercy of Christ, who himself was a migrant and a child of refugees. We as Christians are called to welcome our new neighbors with the same love and compassion we would want ourselves to be shown in a time of persecution. We are also called to provide support and care for refugees overseas who remain in refugee camps and other tenuous situations.
What is the Catholic Church’s Role in Supporting Refugees around the World?
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) seeks to fulfill the teachings of the Church in the arena of migration. USCCB/MRS is one of nine NGOs in the United States that resettles refugees and advocates for the refugee community. Through cooperative agreements with the federal government, USCCB/MRS works in coordination with partner agencies around the United States to welcome and ensure that the basic needs of each arriving refugee are adequately met. USCCB/MRS also engages in assessment trips to regions with large refugee populations.
Learn more about Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement.