This document provides an overview of refugees and the refugee experience. It defines what makes someone a refugee, the reasons why people flee their home countries, and the various stages of the refugee journey, including pre-escape, escape, staying in refugee camps, potential repatriation or local integration, and potential resettlement in another country. It also discusses what refugees may experience emotionally during different stages. The document then provides statistics on refugees resettled in the US and pathways to citizenship. It argues that international law and human rights principles require protecting refugees.

1. Refugees 101
The Advocates for Human Rights is pleased
to involve your class or community group in a day to
learn about refugees in the United States.
© The Advocates for Human Rights 2008

2. • What makes someone a
refugee?
• The refugee journey
• Refugees to the U.S. –
numbers and policies
• How and why we protect
refugees
Overview

3. Why do refugees leave
their countries?

4. Refugees / Asylees
Refugees and asylees
leave their countries
because of war or
persecution due to their
nationality, race, religion,
political opinion or
membership in a group.

5. What is Persecution?
While there is no universally accepted
definition of persecution, threats to life
or freedom are always considered
persecution when they occur because
of a person’s:
• Race
• Religion
• Nationality
• Political opinion
• Membership in a particular social
group

6. Persecution
Other serious violations of human
rights also constitute persecution,
including:
• Slavery
• Prolonged detention without a
charge or trial
• Torture
• Overwhelming discrimination
Note: Not all unfair or unjust treatment is considered persecution.
Assessments of persecution are made on a case by case basis.

7. Persecution Is Based On:
•Race – Examples include Apartheid in South Africa, the
Holocaust and slavery.
•Religion – Could be forbidding membership in a religion or
severe discrimination for people who practice a religion.
•Nationality – Includes citizenship or membership in an ethnic
or linguistic group. Examples include Kurds in Iraq and ethnic
groups in the former Soviet Union.
•Membership in a particular social group – Examples include
members of a tribe, former government employees, or
homosexuals.
•Political opinion – Examples include membership or activity in
an opposing political party.

8. What Is The Difference
Between a Refugee and an Asylee?
• A refugee receives
permission to come to the
U.S. from outside of the
country.
• Refugees are resettled
with the help of a refugee
resettlement agency.
• An asylee is already in the
U.S. when s/he applies for
protection.
• Asylees have to prove that
they have reason to fear
persecution in their home
country.

9. World Refugee Survey (2008) 9
Finland
(724)…………….1:7,300
Denmark
(472)…………1:11,700
Ireland
(144)……………1:30,600
Netherlands
(518)……...1:31,700
United Kingdom
(498)...1:122,500
Argentina (83)
Major Resettlement Countries of Refugees
(by total number and ratio of refugees they accept)
Australia
(10,722)…….1:2,000
Canada
(11,079)……....1:3,000
Norway
(1,397)………1:3,400
Sweden
(1,848)……….1:4,900
New Zealand
(697)…...1:6,000
United States
Total number of refugees worldwide
at the end of 2007: 14,047,300

11. Q: What Must Threats to Life or Freedom Be
Based on In Order to Be Considered
Persecution?
(Click for the answers)
• Race
• Religion
• Nationality
• Membership in a particular social group

12. By nature of their situation, refugees
have to leave their homelands behind.
What would it feel like to leave YOUR
homeland behind?

13. Understanding The Journey of the Refugee
The following section of slides are adapted from Flight to Hope:
A Catholic Refugee Awareness Educational Project, Prepared
by the Catholic Consortium on Refugee Awareness Education
(1990)

14. War, severe discrimination or
persecution often make it too
dangerous for people to remain
in their homeland. This stage is
characterized by:
•Fear of detection
•Anxiety about conditions
•Pressure about escape
•Fear of persecution
•Anticipated sadness over losses
Pre-Escape

15. Fearful for their safety or lives,
refugees are forced to flee. They
may leave secretly or are chased
out. Many die trying to escape.
Those lucky enough to escape
their country are considered
refugees.
Illustration used with permission ©Peter Kuper
Escape

16. During their Escape, Refugees May Experience:
•Panic
•Shock
•Fear
•Danger
•Hunger
•Fatigue
•Separation
•Fear of
victimization
•Fear of being
detected or caught
in the crossfire

17. The average stay in a refugee
camp is years. Many camps
are heavily guarded, surrounded
by barbed wire. Refugees are
sometimes treated cruelly by
guards. Most camps are
operated by the United Nations
and receive help from donor
countries. The refugees await
solutions to the problems in their
homelands.
The Refugee Camp

18. The Refugee Camp Experience is Characterized By:
• Boredom
• Shock
• Depression
• Anger
•Hope mingled with
disappointment
•Adjustment to new
living conditions
•Hopelessness
• Fear of the
unknown
• Culture shock
• Survivor’s guilt
• Helplessness
•Powerlessness
•Self-doubt
•Struggle to meet
survival needs
•Confusion

19. Voluntary Repatriation
If changes happen in their homeland making it safe to return
home, refugees are repatriated. This is the first hope for those
forced to leave their homeland. Unfortunately, this seldom
happens quickly, if ever. The feelings repatriated refugees
experience include:
•Fear of reprisal
•Anticipation of reunions with friends and family
•Fear that deaths of loved ones will be confirmed
•Fear that loss of possessions will be confirmed
•Fear of government’s intentions
•Concern about re-integration

20. Refugees are sometimes
allowed to leave the camps
and take residency in the
host country. This usually
happens when that country
is a neighbor of their own,
where the language and
culture are somewhat
similar.
Local Integration

21. Interview for Resettlement
The United Nations officials interview people to
determine if their situation “qualifies” them as refugees.
Only those who can prove they are escaping
persecution and are unable to return home are eligible
to ask to go to another country.
If they ask to go to the U.S., refugees are then
interviewed by the U.S. Refugee Program officials and
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials to
determine if they meet our eligibility requirements. The
U.S. is stricter than the U.N. For instance, fleeing due to
famine is considered economic migration not
persecution by the U.S.

22. Approval and Flight
Refugees who are approved
to come to the U.S. are
given a health screening and
cultural orientation.
Refugees sign a travel loan
document agreeing to pay
back the cost of the flight.

23. Arrival in the U.S.
As refugees come to the U.S.,
they are assigned to a Refugee
Resettlement Agency where they
receive assistance and guidance
as they begin their new lives.
The Voluntary Resettlement
Agencies (VOLAGs) accredited to
resettle refugees provide days
of service through the Department
of State and then provide after-
care services.
Ongoing services may include
public assistance, medical
assistance, housing, job training,

24. •The fact of never going home
•Loss of family and friends
•Loss of familiar culture
•Anxiety over discrimination in
host country
•Concern over cultural
adaptation
•Concern for economic survival
•Daily Survival Issues
•Language barriers
When Refugees are Resettled, They May Face:

25. Refugees to the U.S.
Each year, the federal
government determines
how many refugees will
be allowed to enter. The
recent yearly refugee
cap has been 70,000.
According to the
Department of
Homeland Security, the
actual number of
refugees resettled in
2006 was 41,150.

26. World Refugee Survey (2008) 26
Iran: 3,900
Guatemala:
3,400
Vietnam:
3,400
Ethiopia:
3,200
Indonesia:
3,100
Ukraine: 3,100
Venezuela:
Refugees to the U.S. at the End of 2007
(by Country of Origin)
China:
16,800
Haiti: 12,300
Cuba:
11,700
Somalia:
11,600
Colombia:
8,200
Russia:
8,100
Total number of refugees in the U.S.
at the end of 2007: 151,200
India: 2,800
Nicaragua: 2,400
Myanmar: 2,200
Sudan: 2,200
Other: 42,800

27. QUIZ TIME!

28. Q: What Phases Might A Refugee Go
Through During His or Her Journey?
(Click for the answers)
• Pre-escape
• Escape
• Stay in a refugee camp
• Voluntary repatriation
• Local integration
• Resettlement in another country

29. What Do You Think? Can a Refugee to the U.S. ...
Sponsor a
family
member to
come to
the U.S?
Stay in the
U.S.
forever?
Legally work
in the U.S.?
Become
a U.S.
citizen?

30. After Refugees Have Been in the U.S.
for 1 Year, They May Apply to Become
Lawful Permanent Residents
• Lawful permanent
residents have
permission to remain in
the U.S. for as long as
they choose.
• They must keep take
out permission for their
green card every 10
years and remain crime
free.
• They can sponsor their
spouse and unmarried
children to join them in

31. Employment
• Refugees in the U.S. are
authorized to work.
• They may be eligible for
employment counseling
and referrals through their
resettlement agency.
• Often, the training and
licenses for the profession
refugees did in their home
country are not accepted
in the U.S.

32. Lawful Permanent Residents
May Become U.S. Citizens
Eligible refugees may choose
to go through the process of
to become a U.S. citizen.

33. To Become a Naturalized Citizen, One Must:
• Have a green card for either
3 or 5 years based on your
particular situation.
• Be physically present in the
U.S. for 2.5 years.
• Pay an application fee of
$675.
• Pass the citizenship test.
• Pass the interview in English.
• Swear to the judge you will
follow the laws of the U.S.
• Be of good moral character
(e.g., no serious crimes).

34. Which States Resettle the Most Refugees?
Can you guess the top 10 states of
resettlement in the U.S.?
Where would YOUR state rank in
resettlement?

35. U.S. Department of State
Top 10 States for Refugee Resettlement in 2005
State Total Arrivals % of U.S. Arrivals
California 7,516 13.97%
Minnesota 6,357 11.81%
Florida 4,793 8.91%
Texas 3,245 6.03%
Washington 2,847 5.29%
New York 2,568 4.77%
Arizona 1,872 3.48%
Georgia 1,870 3.47%
Wisconsin 1,851 3.44%
Ohio 1,560 2.90%

36. U.S. Department of State
States Ranked by Refugees Resettled
1 Califor. 11 Penns. 21 Kent. 31 Louis. 41 Alab.
2 Minn. 12 Illinois 22 Maryl. 32 R. Isl. 42 N. Mex
3 Florida 13 Mass. 23 Utah 33 N. Dak. 43 Alaska
4 Texas 14 Virgin. 24 N. Jers. 34 Nebras. 44 D.C.
5 Wash. 15 N.Car. 25 Idaho 35 S. Dak. 45 Haw.
6 N. York 16 Oregon 26 Conn. 36 Verm. 46 Delaw.
7 Arizona 17 Missou. 27 Indiana 37 Maine 47 Ark.
8 Georgia 18 Color. 28 Iowa 38 Kansas 48 Mont.
9 Wiscon. 19 Mich. 29 N. Ham 39 Oklah. 49 W. Vir
10 Ohio 20 Tenn. 30 Nevada 40 S. Car. 50 Missis.

37. Why Should We Protect Refugees?

38. International Laws Protect Refugees
• U.N. 1951 Convention relating to
the Status of Refugees (April 22,
1954)
– Defines who is a refugee
– Sets out rights of refugees
– Establishes standards of
treatment by receiving countries
– Limited to pre-1951 European
refugees
• 1967 Protocol relating to the Status
of Refugees (October 4, 1967)
– Removes geographic and time
limitations of above-mentioned
Convention

39. Principal of Non-Refoulement
Under the international human
rights principle of non-
refoulement, a country cannot
deport an alien in any manner
to
a territory where his or her life
or freedom would be
threatened
on account of his or her race,
religion, nationality,
membership
in particular social group, or
political opinion.
United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951, Article 33;
Convention Against Torture, Article 3; International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, Article 5

40. What ideas do YOU have about how
to make your world better for
refugees?

41. For More Information,
Visit Energy of a Nation on the Web!
• Obtain accurate and up-to-
date information about
immigrants and refugees.
• Learn about current legislation.
• Take action by contacting
leaders and lawmakers.
• Participate in community events.
• Learn about the issues.
• Access reports and resources on
state and national immigration.
All Free and Downloadable at: www.energyofanation.org!

42. © The Advocates for Human Rights 2008