The document discusses the experiences of refugees who were resettled in the United States. It describes the difficult conditions in refugee camps prior to resettlement, including lack of clean water, poor housing, and limited access to healthcare and education. The process of refugee resettlement through the US program is outlined, including how priority is given to the most vulnerable cases. The expectations of refugees, both before and after arriving, are presented. The initial challenges of resettling are noted as well as navigating the healthcare system as a new arrival. Suggested improvements to the refugee resettlement program are provided.

1. Refugees Awareness Week (RAW)
Mount Holyoke College,
South Hadley, MA
12 April 2011

2. Krisan Refugee Camp (International) Buduburam Refugee Camp

3. 1. What was life before you go to the US?
Lack of Clean Water Supply Poor Housing Poor Health Facilities
Security Issues Unemployment Education
Vegetables Garden Human Rights Activists Cleaning Up Campaigns

4. 2. How were you selected for refugee resettlement and what was the journey like?
The Presidential Determination
 Review the refugee situation or emergency refugee situation.
Project the extent of possible participation of the United
States in resettling refugees.
 Discuss the reasons for believing that the proposed
admission of refugees is justified by humanitarian
concerns, grave humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the
national interest.

5. The United States Refugee Admissions Program
(USRAP)
Priority 1
Cases that are identified and referred to the program by the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a United States Embassy, or a designated
non-governmental organization (NGO).
Priority 2
Groups of special humanitarian concern identified by the U.S. refugee program.
Priority 3
Family Reunification Cases (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of
persons lawfully admitted to the United States as refugees or asylees or permanent
residents (green card holders) or U.S. citizens who previously had refugee or asylum
status

6. United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Partners & Roles
 Department of State/Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) – PRM has overall USRAP
management responsibility overseas and has lead in proposing admissions ceilings and
processing priorities.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – UNHCR refers cases to the USRAP.
 Resettlement Support Centers (RSC), previously referred to as Overseas Processing Entities
(OPE) – Under cooperative agreement with the Department of State, RSCs consist of
international organizations or non-governmental organizations that carry out administrative and
processing functions, such as file preparation and storage, data collection and out-processing
activities.
 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Within DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) has responsibility for adjudicating applications for refugee status and reviewing
case decisions; the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screens arriving refugees for
admission at the port of entry.
 Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) – ORR
administers domestic resettlement benefits for arriving refugees.
 International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Department of State contractors serve primarily as
the travel agent for the USRAP and the OPE in certain locations.
 Non-Governmental Organizations – Provide resettlement assistance and services to arriving
refugees.

7. US Refugee Resettlement Process

8. Refugee resettlement to the United States by region, 1990-2005
Source: Migration Policy Institute

10. 3. What were your expectations of the US before you got here?
Family Reunion
Safety (Security , Peace & Freedom)
Education
Adequate Health Care
Self-Sufficiency
Helping my siblings
Service; that is, giving back to humanity locally and globally.
Did they change after you came?
No, I am on track ….Thanks to the limited internet access I had.

11. 4. What was expected of you as a new refugee arrival?
 US Cultural Orientation Program
Pre-Arrival Processing
The Resettlement Agency
Community Services
Housing***
Transportation
Employment***
Education***
Health***
Money Management
Rights and Responsibilities***
Cultural Adjustment

12. 5. What were the initial and immediate challenges of resettling in the US?
 Cold Weather
My “Liberian” Accent
Transportation
Time: “The African-Time Syndrome.”
Just getting use to common things “eating three times a day.”

13. 6. How was your experience with maneuvering through the health care system?
I was on the Welfare Program for 2 Months
Food Stamp
Medicare
Cash Assistance for Rent
Lived with my month for two weeks.
I started working during the 3rd Month after my arrival with the Worcester Public
Schools as a “Paraprofessional.”
I became disqualified from the Welfare Program because of my income.
Have yearly health insurance.
Rented my own apartment.
General Access to Health Care System
Very easy for me
Make appointments with my PHCP
Take the bus/drive to my appointments
Pay my co-pay and pay for prescription if my coverage doesn’t cover it.

14. 6. If you could improve anything about the refugee resettlement program, what would it be?
 The Immigration Officer(s) doing the INS face-to-face interviews should be familiar with individual
refugees stories.
 The issue of Fraud within the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) is also rampant.
Age limitations for the Priority III program is unnecessary.
 Airfare Loans should be waived for refugees admitted in the US with special needs, such as, pre-
existing health conditions.
Refugees should have a “choice” based on recommendations form the Resettlement Agency where
they want to initially stay upon arrival in the US (if they don’t have a family already in the US).
US-based Refugees Resettlement Agencies should be proactive in assisting refugees access to local
community resources and they should also create strong networks with other agencies to see what is
working in their areas and what isn’t working.
Since most refugees especially from Sub-Saharan Africa are farmers, there should be programs to assist
refugees use their “existing skills” to foster self-sufficiency through sustainable gardens.