Brussels, 16/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - A seminar in Brussels on 10 and 11 March brought together experts from the EU, Canada and the United States to discuss the integration of refugees, particularly those refugees resettled as part of specific programmes. On Monday 16 March, foreign ministers debated EU support for regional protection programmes in the countries neighbouring Syria and refugee protection pilot projects. Barbara Day, who heads the US Domestic Resettlement Program and who attended the seminar, here sets out the main thrust of the American action. The United States is today the principal country of resettlement in the world, followed by Australia, Canada and the Nordic countries which also offer a relatively high annual number of resettlement places. Over recent years, the number of countries involved in resettlement has risen in Europe, as well as in Latin America, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) (interview Solenn Paulic).
Agence Europe: The United States has a long tradition of “resettlement” of refugees. What are the main principles? How many refugees are resettled every year?
Barbara Day: In spring of every year, the President of the United States proposes the number of refugees we will receive. For 2014 and 2015, the figure set is 70,000, very slightly more than in 2014 when we took in 69,987. Every year, we have a ceiling for every zone in the world and we do all we can to reach that ceiling. The refugees arriving in the United States come from all parts of the world and are sent all over the country, into almost 185 communities. The main nationalities received over recent years have been Burmese, who arrive through Thailand, Bhutanese, who travel via Nepal, and Iraqis. These are the main nationalities in our resettlement program but, in reality, we take in refugees of almost 70 nationalities in total, though some are barely represented. (Since the start of the 2014 budget year, the US has resettled one third of the 558 Syrian refugees received, according to official statistics, and almost 20,000 Iraqis and 17,000 Burmese.)
How does selection operate? What are the criteria and who identifies those in need? What happens after the refugees arrive on American soil?
It is the UN High Commission for Refugees that initially identifies candidates. We then check such things as the health of the applicant (is he/she carrying a contagious disease?) and whether or not he/she has a criminal record … It's the Department of Homeland Security that interviews the applicants. Then, our resettlement programme forms part of a broad public-private partnership, working with a whole series of players alongside the State. We work with nine major national NGOs, which then work locally with town halls and social services. This whole network is activated once the refugee arrives, from childcare services, housing and employment services to training and English classes. A little of the funding is Federal, the NGOs provide another part and then the other agencies involved in the resettlement programme. The State Department makes a contribution per refugee ($1,975 in 2015) towards the costs of housing, the purchase of clothing in the first few months and to help a little with the costs of the agencies… Historically, this funding had been unlimited but it has been gradually reduced and now only lasts for eight months rather than 36 months as we had a few years ago. This puts a great deal of pressure on the agencies which have to raise funds from their partners to assist the refugees. As for deciding where they are relocated, that depends on the person resettled. If he/she has family ties, then he/she will be put close to relatives, otherwise it depends on the resources of the community and the needs of the refugee. The situation of a resettled refugee is permanent once he/she has arrived on American soil and one year later, he/she can apply for a green card. (Ed: in Europe, some countries only offer temporary humanitarian protection). This whole preparation phase can last up to two years, which can seem a long time for people waiting in refugee camps.
The EU is struggling to launch a European resettlement programme, the member states preferring to receive refugees on a voluntary basis. In relation to the war in Syria, the EU has been accused of not taking in enough refugees (36,000 places offered). Should it do more?
I don't know if the US and European figures are comparable. Practices are not the same either - resettlement arrangements in Europe often involve granting asylum and humanitarian protection, which is a bit different from the United States. What is certain is that there is room in the world for more refugees to be taken in as there are lots to be resettled. We have received 558 Syrian refugees since January 2015. I think we will take in more.
Is the US resettlement program monitored, for example, to check if it is successful in integrating refugees?
The United States, it is well known, has a tradition of welcoming refugees, probably because we are a country of immigrants. We also have a culture of volunteering. I believe that one of the great successes of our program is that it directly involves all Americans, NGOs, town halls, small towns and larger towns alike. In November of last year, President Obama also announced that a “new Americans” task force was to be set up, bringing together all the administrations concerned and communities to exchange information and ideas on what can be done to improve things. That's what's good, too, about this kind of seminar with our global partners that allows us to share our experience and find new ideas.