Refugee Resettlement Process Carleen Miller MA LMHC LMFT

Refugee Resettlement Process Carleen Miller, MA, LMHC, LMFT Executive Director Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc. cmiller@exodusrefugee. org (317) 921 -0836

INDIANA’S REFUGEE COMMUNITY For more than 35 years Indiana has participated in a humanitarian movement to assist refugees and facilitate resettlement. Refugees in Indiana have come from: Burma, Columbia, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Liberia, Russia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uzbekistan, DR of the Congo, and other countries

A Refugee is … A person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country"

Refugees vs. Displaced Persons - Forced to leave homes - Crossed the border - Internationally recognized - 12 -15 million estimated - Forced to leave homes - Remain in the country of origin - Not internationally recognized - 25 million

Fleeing Their Homeland • Persecution, ethnic cleansing, human rights violations, torture, imprisonment • Lives threatened • Forced to leave without warning • Not able to bring any basic supplies • Leave with family and clothes on their backs, danger along the way

Life in the Refugee Camps • • • Strict rules Basic Health Care Basic Education No citizenship Over crowded Under-supplied Exposed to disease Crime Disabling – cooking, working Other harsh conditions

Thailand Camp Malaysia Refugee Area

Refugee “Camp” in Jordan -bbc

Iraqi Refugee in Rented Apartment in Jordan -BBC

Liberian Children in a Refugee camp in Ghana

Possible Solutions 1) Repatriation: Returning to their home country a) Waiting b) Resolve conflict 2) Nationalization: Citizenship of host country 3) Resettlement: a) 1% of 1% get resettled b) US resettles 60% of resettled refugees c) Extremely difficult choice for refugees

“Refugee" Status • Application – Four Interviews with the UNHCR • 3 rd Country’s own criteria for resettlement • Long wait for an available slot

Assigning Countries • UNHCR – Establishes legal status as refugee for applicant – United States, Australia, Canada, Scandinavian countries, New Zealand, Great Britain, Holland others. – Affidavit of Relationship (family reunification) – Random assignments – Community grouping

Refugee Processing • Two international agencies work in countries of first asylum to process refugee applicants for resettlement – The Joint Voluntary Agency and the International Organization for Migration • Provide initial screening, interviews and processing of cases for immigration and naturalization • IOM also coordinates travel of refugees to resettlement countries

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services Part of Department of Homeland Security and US Department of Health and Human Services • • • Only accept refugees from 14 countries Conduct interviews overseas Limit on number allowed into US Must be approved to enter the US Determine if resettlement is only viable option • Must meet certain guidelines once living here – Identification – Health –Criminal Record

Material Support • Patriot Act – Material Support • Changed the definition of terrorism • Impact on Refugees ØBefore 9/11 - 70, 000 refugees ØAfter 9/11 - 30, 000 refugees ØNow- 70, 000 refugees

Assignment to Voluntary Agencies • US Department of State, Office for Populations, Refugees and Migration (PRM) allocates refugee cases • Ten National Agencies receive refugee cases and assign to affiliates in the United States • Indiana has four affiliates. Two are associated with US Conference of Catholic Bishops. One is affiliated with Church World Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries and one is affiliated with World Relief

Pre-Arrival Preparation • Affiliates get assigned cases – we accept or deny • Limited paperwork is sent on client demographics such as family composition ethnicity, language, religion and any known medical issues (from medical screening). • Notice comes 1 -2 weeks before arrival in the United States

US Refugee Funding • US State Department, PRM provides each resettlement agency with $900 per refugee. $450 must go to the refugee as cash or rent etc. $450 can be used to support the services of the agency • Office of Refugee Resettlement ORR (Part of the Department for Health and Human Services HHS) provides grants to support self-sufficiency services such as employment, language training and alternatives to welfare programs • Private Donations

Refugee Resettlement in the Placement City • • • Start with nothing Apartment set up Airport pick up Apartment Orientation Core Services and Cultural Orientation – Basic needs (furniture, clothing, food, rental assistance) – Health – Welfare (Medicaid, Food Stamps, Limited Cash Assistance) – Language and Job Training – Education – Self-sufficiency Programs – Employment Services

Refugees In Indiana Today • Burma – Ethnic Groups Who Speak Different Languages and Have Different Cultural Norms • • • Burmese Chin Karenni Mon Other (Chinese-Burmese, Kachin, Rakhine, Shan)

Refugees in Indiana Today • Iraqi – Shiite – Sunni – Christian • Iranians • Eritrean • Chinese • Other African and Asian Countries

Challenges facing Resettled Refugees • • • Language Culture Schools American appliances Employment Transportation Bills Budget Banking Prejudice • Health and Mental Health • Substance Abuse • Climate • Loss • Americans’ knowledge of refugees – Awareness – Flexibility – Cultural competency – Understanding refugees are legal United States Residents – Health concerns

Resettlement Shock for Iraqi Refugees in US Sunni/Shiite/Christian • • Resettled into poverty Professional credentials not recognized Lower standard of living and status Diversity adjustment and small Arabic community • Long transition period • Tenacious and resourceful

Contributions Refugees Make to Indiana • • • Food Businesses Consumers Art Ritual Language Religion Diversity Strong Family Ties • • Industrious Workforce Community Service Civic Pride Professionals in a variety of fields • Generations to come of passionate committed citizens • Hope and Courage

Indianapolis is Home to Thousands of Persons of Courage and Hope