topic Re: For those interested in the process in Community Chat

For those interested in the process

Maudelynn — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 14:48:24 GMT

I hope this goes viral on FB. Great explanation from an American immigration lawyer who works with the refugee program.

The author's name is Scott Hicks and you can view his page on Facebook.

"Most of my friends know I practice Immigration law. As such, I have worked with the refugee community for over two decades. This post is long, but if you want... actual information about the process, keep reading.

I can not tell you how frustrating it is to see the misinformation and outright lies that are being perpetuated about the refugee process and the Syrian refugees. So, here is a bit of information from the real world of someone who actually works and deals with this issue.

The refugee screening process is multi-layered and is very difficult to get through. Most people languish in temporary camps for months to years while their story is evaluated and checked.

First, you do not get to choose what country you might be resettled into. If you already have family (legal) in a country, that makes it more likely that you will go there to be with family, but other than that it is random. So, you can not simply walk into a refugee camp, show a document, and say, I want to go to America. Instead, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees) works with the local authorities to try to take care of basic needs. Once the person/family is registered to receive basic necessities, they can be processed for resettlement. Many people are not interested in resettlement as they hope to return to their country and are hoping that the turmoil they fled will be resolved soon. In fact, most refugees in refugee events never resettle to a third country. Those that do want to resettle have to go through an extensive process.

Resettlement in the U.S. is a long process and takes many steps. The Refugee Admissions Program is jointly administered by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) in the Department of State, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within DHS conducts refugee interviews and determines individual eligibility for refugee status in the United States.

We evaluate refugees on a tiered system with three levels of priority.

First Priority are people who have suffered compelling persecution or for whom no other durable solution exists. These individuals are referred to the United States by UNHCR, or they are identified by the U.S. embassy or a non-governmental organization (NGO).

Second priority are groups of “special concern” to the United States. The Department of State determines these groups, with input from USCIS, UNHCR, and designated NGOs. At present, we prioritize certain persons from the former Soviet Union, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Iran, Burma, and Bhutan.

Third priority are relatives of refugees (parents, spouses, and unmarried children under 21) who are already settled in the United States may be admitted as refugees. The U.S.-based relative must file an Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) and must be processed by DHS.

Before being allowed to come to the United States, each refugee must undergo an extensive interviewing, screening, and security clearance process conducted by Regional Refugee Coordinators and overseas Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs). Individuals generally must not already be firmly resettled (a legal term of art that would be a separate article). Just because one falls into the three priorities above does not guarantee admission to the United States.

The Immigration laws require that the individuals prove that they have a “well-founded fear,” (another legal term which would be a book.) This fear must be proved regardless of the person’s country, circumstance, or classification in a priority category. There are multiple interviews and people are challenged on discrepancies. I had a client who was not telling the truth on her age and the agency challenged her on it. Refugees are not simply admitted because they have a well founded fear. They still must show that they are not subject to exclusion under Section 212(a) of the INA. These grounds include serious health matters, moral or criminal matters, as well as security issues. In addition, they can be excluded for such things as polygamy, misrepresentation of facts on visa applications, smuggling, or previous deportations. Under some circumstances, the person may be eligible to have the ground waived.

At this point, a refugee can be conditionally accepted for resettlement. Then, the RSC sends a request for assurance of placement to the United States, and the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) works with private voluntary agencies (VOLAG) to determine where the refugee will live. If the refugee does have family in the U.S., efforts will be made to resettle close to that family.

Every person accepted as a refugee for planned admission to the United States is conditional upon passing a medical examination and passing all security checks. Frankly, there is more screening of refugees than ever happens to get on an airplane. Of course, yes, no system can be 100% foolproof. But if that is your standard, then you better shut down the entire airline industry, close the borders, and stop all international commerce and shipping. Every one of those has been the source of entry of people and are much easier ways to gain access to the U.S. Only upon passing all of these checks (which involve basically every agency of the government involved in terrorist identification) can the person actually be approved to travel.

Before departing, refugees sign a promissory note to repay the United States for their travel costs. This travel loan is an interest-free loan that refugees begin to pay back six months after arriving in the country.

Once the VOLAG is notified of the travel plans, it must arrange for the reception of refugees at the airport and transportation to their housing at their final destination.
This process from start to finish averages 18 to 24 months, but I have seen it take years.

The reality is that about half of the refugees are children, another quarter are elderly. Almost all of the adults are either moms or couples coming with children. Each year the President, in consultation with Congress, determines the numerical ceiling for refugee admissions. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, the proposed ceiling is 85,000. We have been averaging about 70,000 a year for the last number of years. (Source: Refugee Processing Center)

Over one-third of all refugee arrivals (35.1 percent, or 24,579) in FY 2015 came from the Near East/South Asia—a region that includes Iraq, Iran, Bhutan, and Afghanistan.
Another third of all refugee arrivals (32.1 percent, or 22,472) in FY 2015 came from Africa.
Over a quarter of all refugee arrivals (26.4 percent, or 18,469) in FY 2015 came from East Asia — a region that includes China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. (Source: Refugee Processing Center)

Finally, the process in Europe is different. I would be much more concerned that terrorists are infiltrating the European system because they are not nearly so extensive and thorough in their process."

Re: For those interested in the process

NickNack — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:01:22 GMT

Thank you for posting this. It was very interesting.

Re: For those interested in the process

Bhvbum — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:05:22 GMT

What also gets lost in the hysteria, are all the people who arrive every day via international flights. I guarantee THEY don't go through this process and many never return back home.

Re: For those interested in the process

Maudelynn — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:08:36 GMT

No kidding. If you wanted to sneak in to commit a terrorist act, you would just come here as a tourist.

Re: For those interested in the process

Mominohio — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:15:23 GMT

This is an interesting read, and I'll be using some of the information here as a basis to do further investigation of the agencies and processes he mentioned. I like things corroborated, when forming an opinion about something as complicated as this. This is a great place to start with information, so thanks for posting.

A main concern should now be, that if this process does indeed take all these steps and time, that our government not see fit to 'speed it up' due to the critical nature of the events, and therefore compromise the security that the process is supposed to provide.

Re: For those interested in the process

Maudelynn — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:24:41 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
This is an interesting read, and I'll be using some of the information here as a basis to do further investigation of the agencies and processes he mentioned. I like things corroborated, when forming an opinion about something as complicated as this. This is a great place to start with information, so thanks for posting.

A main concern should now be, that if this process does indeed take all these steps and time, that our government not see fit to 'speed it up' due to the critical nature of the events, and therefore compromise the security that the process is supposed to provide.

Thanks mominohio. I think it's important to verify the info. Check out the author's FB page, too. I haven't heard the government is trying to fast track the process.

Re: For those interested in the process

60sgirl — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:38:13 GMT

this from a lawyer?

there is mention of a medical exam. done by whom? Their local doctors? What about vaccinations? People traveling abroad have to get vaccinations to prevent the risk of disease. Are they getting immunized before leaving their country too, are the children required to get vaccinations like American children are?

Re: For those interested in the process

Mominohio — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:42:02 GMT

@Maudelynn wrote:
@Mominohio wrote:
This is an interesting read, and I'll be using some of the information here as a basis to do further investigation of the agencies and processes he mentioned. I like things corroborated, when forming an opinion about something as complicated as this. This is a great place to start with information, so thanks for posting.

A main concern should now be, that if this process does indeed take all these steps and time, that our government not see fit to 'speed it up' due to the critical nature of the events, and therefore compromise the security that the process is supposed to provide.
Thanks mominohio. I think it's important to verify the info. Check out the author's FB page, too. I haven't heard the government is trying to fast track the process.

@Maudelynn

I hadn't heard that is was either. But it would seem to be what we might be hearing in the near future, considering how grave the situation is supposed to be, and how much opposition there is to them even coming at all (not saying refugee's situations aren't grave, but I do believe that often what we are told, even by our media, comes with a bias or slant one way or the other from people who have a 'side' on the issue).

It really is hard, in this day and age, to get actual facts, and not things presented with a bias. Makes understanding these things, and choosing/backing a solution that much more complicated.

Re: For those interested in the process

rosie03 — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:46:12 GMT

Who supports them once they are here?

Re: For those interested in the process

JustJazzmom — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:46:26 GMT

Of course the children will be vaccinated!! Or maybe titers will be drawn to see if they have immunity against the usual childhood diseases.

If they will be attending schools, the children will be vaccinated according to the school district's requirements.

What makes you think this will not happen? What do you think happens in refugee centers here? This is part of the refugee process-- sort of like the quarantines that people emigrating from Europe went through when Ellis Island was doing this in NYC at the turn of the century in 1900's.

Re: For those interested in the process

Suziepeach — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:48:14 GMT

Let's see, one time only in Georgia we have to prove who we are when we get a driver's license... check.. we have vets that can't get benefits or help yet these refugees will will supposedly get benefits.... check (and wrong) .. soooo many unknowns!

Re: For those interested in the process

kdgn — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:49:28 GMT

This is the part of Mr. Hicks' piece that should be of concern:

Re: For those interested in the process

mstyrion 1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:51:41 GMT

@orangegarnet wrote:
Let's see, one time only in Georgia we have to prove who we are when we get a driver's license... check.. we have vets that can't get benefits or help yet these refugees will will supposedly get benefits.... check (and wrong) .. soooo many unknowns!

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What benefits will refugees get?

If they become citizens, then of course they would be entitled to the same benefits every other citizen gets. Just like any of our immigrant ancestors.

What benefits do vets not get as citizens?

Re: For those interested in the process

Suziepeach — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:53:45 GMT

We have tons of homeless VETS that can't get help, the poor guys on the streets don't have benefits ... they should come first, afterall they served and gave for our country!!!

Re: For those interested in the process

Kim-QVC — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:57:50 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC because it is rude and inappropriate.

Re: For those interested in the process

mstyrion 1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:57:52 GMT

@orangegarnet wrote:
We have tons of homeless VETS that can't get help, the poor guys on the streets don't have benefits ... they should come first, afterall they served and gave for our country!!!

______________________________________________________

Their benefits have not been taken away. They are there but just not being used. They have VA benefits, SS, Medicare etc. just like every other citizen. The problem is getting them the help they are entitled to. A very different problem which has nothing whatsoever to do with new immigrants into this country.

Re: For those interested in the process

ladyroxanne — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 15:59:10 GMT

well that's the question @Suziepeach

i don't understand why they can't get benefits

Re: For those interested in the process

60sgirl — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 16:03:57 GMT

@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@orangegarnet wrote:
Let's see, one time only in Georgia we have to prove who we are when we get a driver's license... check.. we have vets that can't get benefits or help yet these refugees will will supposedly get benefits.... check (and wrong) .. soooo many unknowns!
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What benefits will refugees get?
If they become citizens, then of course they would be entitled to the same benefits every other citizen gets. Just like any of our immigrant ancestors.

What benefits do vets not get as citizens?

and how long does it take to become a citizen? years.... and who pays for them in the meantime?

When this country can give jobs to every, single person who needs one, good jobs that they can live on, benefits, food, shelter, (how many homeless are there?), medical care, prescriptions.... then we should be able to help people from other countries. But to put them at the head of the line while our own citizens have basic needs is unthinkable.

When immigrants came through here in the 1900's, they came to find work, land, provide for their families. America was a young country, unlike Europe, with lots of land that needed to be farmed. People came and staked homesteads and farmed the land, worked in our factories, built our cities and towns. That is not America today. We don;'t have lots of land for homesteading, we are not flush with farming jobs, we are fast becoming the same type of nations that immigrants left. Crime, coruption in government, unemployment, young people unable to afford housing.

What was in the past is no longer true now.

Re: For those interested in the process

Suziepeach — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 16:05:07 GMT

@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@orangegarnet wrote:
We have tons of homeless VETS that can't get help, the poor guys on the streets don't have benefits ... they should come first, afterall they served and gave for our country!!!
______________________________________________________
Their benefits have not been taken away. They are there but just not being used. They have VA benefits, SS, Medicare etc. just like every other citizen. The problem is getting them the help they are entitled to. A very different problem which has nothing whatsoever to do with new immigrants into this country.

********

Okay then I agree and fine but why doesn't the goverment worry more about them getting their benefits than these refugees? Why doesn't the goverment help them more by giving them homes or places to stay? Seems our priorities are mixed up and that's completely my opinion and not blasting anyone elses.

Re: For those interested in the process

JustJazzmom — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 16:05:52 GMT

I seem to remember that a certain Congress cut funding to VA Centers across the USA. This link is from April of this year for the 2016 year funding budget.

See link:http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/19356/how-1-4-billion-in-budget-cuts-will-impact-veterans/

Folks if you are unhappy that veterans are not getting their rightly deserved benefits, you need to contact your Representatives in Congress to bring back those moneys to fund the the VA Centers..