|| LIRS || Washington Update -- August 2003

Washington Update
August 2003

U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program Crisis Continues
By Lynette Engelhardt Stott, LIRS Director for Government Relations

Nine months into the fiscal year 2003 the crisis in the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program continues. Despite a slight increase in the rate of refugees being resettled, fewer than 18,000 refugees have found new hope and new life in the United States this year—only 25 percent of the 70,000 the White House said would be resettled.

Historically the United States has led the world in providing resettlement for refugees, but over the last two years the government has fallen far short of its commitments for refugee admissions. During fiscal year 2002 only 27,075 of the proposed 70,000 refugees were admitted to the United States—the lowest number in 25 years. Even fewer refugees may be resettled this year. With 13 million refugees in the world, who too often live in perilous conditions, the United States must do better. Even 70,000 would account for barely one-half of one percent of the world’s refugees.

As a result of these low numbers, tens of thousands of refugees in urgent need of protection and resettlement in the United States continue to languish in dangerous conditions. Some refugees have died waiting. Others, including a 6-year-old Somali girl stranded in a refugee camp in Kenya, have been raped.

Kelly Ryan, deputy assistant secretary of State in charge of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program, was quoted in a July 7 Los Angeles Times article as saying, “I don’t think we are seeing a decline of the program. There was a contraction, because of the security procedures, but there is no philosophical change in the idea that refugees are in need of protection.”

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ04), a founding co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus, countered in the same article, “Prove it. Show it. You can overstate the security issue to the point where it kills the refugee program.”

In fact, refugees have long been one of the most intensely screened groups of people entering the United States.

Rep. Smith and the other members of the Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus have been very active in supporting the Refugee Resettlement Program. The Caucus has already sent letters to the Department of State, hosted receptions to draw attention to the plight of refugees and organized a Dear Colleague letter in support of increased funding for the Migration and Refugees Assistance (MRA) account, which provides funding for our government’s efforts to assist refugees. A number of additional Refugee Caucus activities are currently being planned, including a staff trip to a refugee camp in Africa.

The Refugee Caucus currently has 44 members, but more are needed in order to draw attention to the urgent needs of refugees. Please consider meeting with your members of Congress over the August recess and urging them to join the Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus. If they have already joined, take the time to thank them.