Starting A New LifeStarting A New LifeThe Refugee and Immigrant The Refugee and Immigrant

ExperienceExperience

PresenterPresenterMay ShoganMay Shogan

Director of International Director of International Exchanges and Education Exchanges and Education

DepartmentDepartment

864 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209Phone: (716) 883-1900 Fax: (716) 883-9529

WWW.IIBUFF.ORG

Refugees vs. ImmigrantsRefugees vs. Immigrants

RefugeesRefugees A person outside A person outside

of the U.S. who of the U.S. who seeks protection seeks protection on the grounds of on the grounds of well founded fear well founded fear of being of being persecuted on the persecuted on the basis of race, basis of race, religion, political religion, political affiliation, political affiliation, political opinion or national opinion or national origin. origin.

ImmigrantsImmigrants A Foreign-born A Foreign-born

individual who has individual who has been admitted to been admitted to reside permanently reside permanently in the United in the United States. They States. They usually come to the usually come to the U.S. for economic U.S. for economic reasons or to join reasons or to join other family other family members. They are members. They are not in danger.not in danger.

Becoming an ImmigrantBecoming an Immigrant

Family Family reunification: Must reunification: Must be sponsored by a be sponsored by a family memberfamily member

Employment:Labor Employment:Labor certification certification processprocess

Diversity visa Diversity visa (Lottery)(Lottery)

Immigration Trends of the 19Immigration Trends of the 19thth and 20 and 20thth CenturyCentury

Becoming a RefugeeBecoming a Refugee

FleeingFleeing Seeking Legal Refugee StatusSeeking Legal Refugee Status Seeking ResettlementSeeking Resettlement

The President decides how many refugees The President decides how many refugees can enter the country every year and from can enter the country every year and from

which countries. The number is usually which countries. The number is usually around around

75,000- 80,000 refugees.75,000- 80,000 refugees.

Who controlls the number of refugees coming into the U.S.?

Refugees In Western New Refugees In Western New YorkYork

RussiaRussia VietnamVietnam BosniaBosnia Congo Congo EritreaEritrea EthiopiaEthiopia IranIran SomaliaSomalia

KosovoKosovo LiberiaLiberia Sudan Sudan AfghanistanAfghanistan RwandaRwanda IraqIraq Burma (Myanmar) Burma (Myanmar) Bhutan Bhutan

Over the years the refugees in Western NY come from:

Iraqi RefugeesIraqi RefugeesQuick Facts:Quick Facts: The war in Iraq displaced 4 The war in Iraq displaced 4

million people.million people. 2 million have fled the 2 million have fled the

country since 2003.country since 2003. 100,000 people leave the 100,000 people leave the

country every month.country every month. 40% of the middle class 40% of the middle class

has left.has left. 25% of people have PTSD.25% of people have PTSD.

Burmese Burmese RefugeesRefugeesQuick Facts:Quick Facts:

The military The military government of Burma government of Burma is responsible for is responsible for numerous human numerous human rights violations. rights violations.

Minority ethnic groups Minority ethnic groups are routinely sent to are routinely sent to refugee camps, since refugee camps, since the regime has the regime has labeled them “anti-labeled them “anti-nationalists.”nationalists.”

Aung Sung Aung Sung Syu Kyi Syu Kyi was was released released from from house house arrest.arrest.

DemocratiDemocratic elections c elections were held were held again, but again, but the ruling the ruling military military party party “won” “won” almost all almost all of the of the seats. seats.

After years After years of protest, of protest, democratic democratic elections elections were held. were held. The elected The elected leader, leader, Aung Sung Aung Sung Syu Kyi was Syu Kyi was under house under house arrest on arrest on and off for and off for 20 yrs.20 yrs.

A military A military coup took coup took control.control.

Burma Burma was freed was freed from from British British colonial colonial rule and rule and made a made a republic.republic.

19481948 19621962 19901990 20102010 20112011

TIMELINE OF BURMESE HISTORY

Bhutanese Bhutanese RefugeesRefugees

The History:The History: Ethnic Nepali people Ethnic Nepali people migrated from Nepal to Bhutan in migrated from Nepal to Bhutan in the late 1880s, living in the lowland the late 1880s, living in the lowland Southern areas that the Bhutanese Southern areas that the Bhutanese did not like.did not like.

The Problem:The Problem: As their numbers As their numbers grew, the ethnic Nepali people kept grew, the ethnic Nepali people kept their distinctive religion, language, their distinctive religion, language, dress and culture. The Bhutanese dress and culture. The Bhutanese majority ethnic group, the Druks, majority ethnic group, the Druks, began to see them as a threat to began to see them as a threat to political and economic power.political and economic power.

100,000 100,000 people fled people fled or were or were forced to forced to leave leave Bhutan and Bhutan and go to go to refugee refugee camps in camps in Nepal.Nepal.

Ethnic dress Ethnic dress was outlawed, was outlawed, and the and the traditional traditional Nepali Nepali language language forbidden to forbidden to be taught in be taught in the classroomthe classroom

Bhutanese Bhutanese citizenship citizenship law was law was passed, passed, forcing forcing people to people to provide provide evidence evidence they were they were Druk not Druk not Nepali.Nepali.

19851985 19891989 19901990 1990- 19921990- 1992

Protests Protests erupted against erupted against the the government’s government’s rulings. Labeled rulings. Labeled ‘anti-‘anti-nationalists,’ nationalists,’ the freedom the freedom fighters were fighters were thrown in jail. thrown in jail.

Brief History of The Bhutanese Brief History of The Bhutanese RepressionRepression

Stresses Experienced By Stresses Experienced By Refugees:Refugees:

Pre- FlightPre- Flight During Flight and ProcessingDuring Flight and Processing ImprisonmentImprisonment Loss of family membersLoss of family members Loss of home and possessionsLoss of home and possessions Loss of livelihoodLoss of livelihood Repeated relocationRepeated relocation Witnessing crimes against Witnessing crimes against loved loved

onesones Living in hidingLiving in hiding Famine and starvationFamine and starvation Fear of unexpected arrestFear of unexpected arrest

Rape or physical assaultRape or physical assault Witnessing crimesWitnessing crimes Multiple flight and escapeMultiple flight and escape AnxietyAnxiety Robbery and attacks by Robbery and attacks by othersothers Illness or injuryIllness or injury MalnutritionMalnutrition Long waits in refugee Long waits in refugee campscamps Fear of being forgottenFear of being forgotten Anxiety over the futureAnxiety over the future

The Path of a Refugee: The Path of a Refugee: Persecution and FlightPersecution and Flight

Persecution:Persecution: Living in a Living in a place where the group you place where the group you belong to is being belong to is being persecuted because of race, persecuted because of race, religion, ethnic affiliation, religion, ethnic affiliation, social group, or political social group, or political belief. belief.

Flight:Flight: Fleeing your country Fleeing your country when your life is threatened. when your life is threatened. Take only your immediate Take only your immediate family members and the family members and the clothes you are wearing.clothes you are wearing.

Becoming a Becoming a refugeerefugee

Refugees flee to save their Refugees flee to save their own lives or that of a family own lives or that of a family membermember. .

According to the United Nations, According to the United Nations, “The latest figures available “The latest figures available show that the number of show that the number of refugees of concern to UNHCR refugees of concern to UNHCR stood at 10.4 million refugees at stood at 10.4 million refugees at the beginning of 2011, …(with) a the beginning of 2011, …(with) a further 4.7 million registered” further 4.7 million registered” Palestinian refugees in camps in Palestinian refugees in camps in the Middle East.the Middle East.

15.1 MILLION 15.1 MILLION Refugees Refugees

WorldwideWorldwide

The waiting begins:The waiting begins: Life in a camp Life in a camp

If the United Nations If the United Nations recognizes your need for recognizes your need for protection, you may be protection, you may be given a card and allowed given a card and allowed to live in a refugee camp. to live in a refugee camp. You may not even be safe You may not even be safe there, especially if you there, especially if you are a woman or a child.are a woman or a child.

Refugee CampsRefugee Camps

If the answer is If the answer is YESYES, , your application your application becomes a case, and becomes a case, and you wait for processing you wait for processing to a third countryto a third country

Seeking Resettlement:*Only about 1% of all refugees are referred by the UNHCR for resettlement in a third country.

*Of the 192 member states of the UN, 16 have established annual quotas to resettle refugees. The U.S. resettles over 50% of all refugees.

* Family ties, language ability, profession and other factors are taken into consideration by the UNHCR when considering resettlement.

Finally – you are called back in to hear the decision on your case!

If the answer is NO, you have other options:a) Return home,b) Stay where you are,c) Try another country.

The Refugee The Refugee ProcessProcess

Joint Voluntary Agency (Checks paperwork)

Class Name Check(Computer)

USCISUS Citizenship &

Immigration Services

Approved Joint Voluntary AgencyDeniedClass Refusal

Motion to:- Reconsider- Reopen

INS

Security Name Check

Refugee Data CenterAssurance

Medical

Cultural Orientation

International Organization For Migrants (Travel loan)

USA

UN High Commission For Refugees

Embassy Referral

Affidavit of relationship (family in U.S.) P2 Direct

Registration

Voluntary Agencies in the Voluntary Agencies in the U.S.U.S.

Church World Service (CWS)Church World Service (CWS) Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society/ Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society/

Episcopal Migration Ministries (DFMS/EMM)Episcopal Migration Ministries (DFMS/EMM) Ethiopian Community Development Council Ethiopian Community Development Council

(ECDC)(ECDC) Hebrew Immigrant Aid society (HIAS)Hebrew Immigrant Aid society (HIAS) United States Commission For Refugees and United States Commission For Refugees and

Immigrants (USCRI)Immigrants (USCRI) International Rescue CommitteeInternational Rescue Committee Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) United States Catholic Conference (USCC)United States Catholic Conference (USCC) World Relief Corporation (WRC)World Relief Corporation (WRC)

Resettlement Agencies in Resettlement Agencies in BuffaloBuffalo

International Institute of BuffaloInternational Institute of Buffalo Journey’s EndJourney’s End Catholic CharitiesCatholic Charities Jewish Family ServicesJewish Family Services

- Pre-travel Activities- Pre-travel Activities Assurance ProcessAssurance Process Medical ClearanceMedical Clearance Security ClearanceSecurity Clearance Cultural OrientationCultural Orientation

- Travel to the US- Travel to the US - US Arrival and Reception- US Arrival and Reception

Refugee Resettlement in the Refugee Resettlement in the USUS

After passing medical and After passing medical and security clearances, then security clearances, then refugees are eligible to fly to the refugees are eligible to fly to the U.S. They may only have a day U.S. They may only have a day or two notice that they are or two notice that they are leaving.leaving.

Resettlement agencies ‘assure’ Resettlement agencies ‘assure’ the case in advance, but may the case in advance, but may only have a couple days notice only have a couple days notice that a family is coming and that a family is coming and needs a new home.needs a new home.

Coming to Coming to AmericaAmerica

Services and Benefits Services and Benefits ProvidedProvided No Interest travel loan to come to the U.S.No Interest travel loan to come to the U.S.

8 months Refugee cash Assistance (RCA) and Medical Assistance 8 months Refugee cash Assistance (RCA) and Medical Assistance (Medicaid)(Medicaid)

Food StampsFood Stamps Basic needs such as initial housing, furnishings, food, clothingBasic needs such as initial housing, furnishings, food, clothing Community orientationCommunity orientation Social Security CardsSocial Security Cards School Registration for childrenSchool Registration for children Referrals for medical appointments and other supportive service Referrals for medical appointments and other supportive service

needsneeds Employment ServicesEmployment Services English language classesEnglish language classes Case management (Through local agency and caseworkers)Case management (Through local agency and caseworkers) Other services depending upon location and local capacityOther services depending upon location and local capacity Adjustment of status from refugee to legal permanent resident (In 1 Adjustment of status from refugee to legal permanent resident (In 1

year)year)

Stresses Experienced By Refugees Stresses Experienced By Refugees After arrival in the U.S.After arrival in the U.S.

Unmet expectationsUnmet expectations Low economic & social Low economic & social

statusstatus Language barrierLanguage barrier Bad news from homeBad news from home Discrimination / racial Discrimination / racial

insultsinsults Values conflictValues conflict Transportation limitationsTransportation limitations Social isolationSocial isolation Identity issuesIdentity issues Role loss/ ambiguity/ Role loss/ ambiguity/

reversalreversal

Unemployment/ Unemployment/ underemploymentunderemployment

Family reunificationFamily reunification Sex ratio inequitiesSex ratio inequities Inadequate housingInadequate housing Legal status questionsLegal status questions Secondary migrationSecondary migration Intergenerational conflictIntergenerational conflict Neighborhood violenceNeighborhood violence Poor physical and mental Poor physical and mental

healthhealth

Adjustment Stages:

Stage One: Excitement or “Honeymoon period”

Stage Two: Withdrawal

Stage Three: Adjustment

Stage Four: Enthusiasm

Adjustment Stages:Adjustment Stages:

FactsFacts Refugees are legally permitted to enter the Refugees are legally permitted to enter the

United States.United States. After one year in the United States After one year in the United States

refugees must file to change their refugees must file to change their immigration status to “Legal Permanent immigration status to “Legal Permanent Resident”.Resident”.

After five years in the United States they After five years in the United States they may apply for citizenship.may apply for citizenship.

““Tell me and I’ll forget, show me Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may not remember, involve and I may not remember, involve

me and I’ll understandme and I’ll understand””- Native American Proverb- Native American Proverb