|
Refugees
revitalize the American economy, enrich our cultural diversity
and reaffirm our commitment to human rights and democracy for
which many of these refugees risked their lives. Each year,
the President of the United States sets refugee admissions numbers
and regional allocations. The President sets these numbers after
consulting with Congress, administration officials, state and
local governments, public interest groups and other organizations
that work with refugees. Eligible refugees are admitted to the
United States after having shown that they have been persecuted
or have a well-founded fear of being persecuted. Funding for
admissions programs comes out of the Migration and Refugee Assistance
(MRA) Account and the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance
(ERMA) Fund.
The
Facts
U.S. refugee
admissions have declined dramatically since the early 1980s.
In 1980, the annual admissions ceiling was 231,700. In contrast,
the current admissions ceiling is 70,000. This figure includes
an unallocated reserve of 20,000 admissions, which will likely
go unused.
According
to the US Committee for Refugees (USCR), there are an estimated
13 million refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.
Inefficiencies
in the refugee pipeline have resulted in fewer refugees arriving
annually than are allowed for under the admissions ceiling.
In addition to security and medical clearances, refugees must
pass through a series of interviews before reaching the U.S.
It can take from six months to two years (or longer) to complete
this process. As a result, the U.S. government rarely admits
as many refugees as are authorized by annual ceilings. According
to the Migration Policy Institute, there has been a cumulative
admissions shortfall of more than 125,000 refugees between 1991
and 2001.
Following
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, refugee admissions
have declined dramatically. As a result of difficulties in implementing
increased security screening of refugees, only 27,000 refugees
were admitted in 2002, nearly 43,000 short of the 70,000 admissions
ceiling for that year.
According
to Immigration and Refugee Services of America, as of May 2003
the United States has admitted only 14,369 refugees for resettlement.
At the current rate, the United States will not meet the refugee
admissions ceiling of 70,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003.
The Department
of State's Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration is
currently conducting a NGO Resettlement Referral Pilot Program
to enhance resettlement from Africa. While the traditional system
for the resettlement of refugees is administered through UNHCR,
the pilot program will enable NGOs to refer individuals for
resettlement directly to the U.S. government.
Recommendations
The U.S.
government should make every effort not only to meet the 70,000
ceiling for FY 2003, but also revise the refugee admissions
ceiling to include the 40,000 refugees who were not admitted
in 2002 due to security-related delays.
The U.S.
government should increase MRA appropriations in addition to
annual refugee ceilings. Without such a concurrent increase,
higher admissions will translate to a reduction in the funding
available for overseas assistance to people in desperate need.
Refugee admissions and relief assistance are both vital priorities
and should not be pitted against one another in an annual zero
sum game.
Given
the dire and often dangerous circumstances in which many refugees
reside, priority should be given to provide security clearances
for refugees whose safety and well-being are at risk.
|
