Citizenship and US Immigration: Week Four
Citizenship and U.S. Immigration: Week Four
Lecture Five: Refugees and Asylum
Refugee resettlement to the United States by region, 1990-2005(Source: Migration Policy Institute)
Refugee • Refugee status is a form of protection that may be granted to people who meet the definition of refugee and who are of special humanitarian concern to the United States. Refugees are generally people outside of their country who are unable or unwilling to return home because they fear serious harm.
Refugees • The annual number of refugees to be admitted to the United States is determined by the President, through a proposal sent to Congress. • A total of 73,293 persons were admitted to the United States as refugees during 2010. The leading countries of nationality for refugee admissions were Iraq (24.6%), Burma (22.8%), Bhutan (16.9%), Somalia (6.7%), Cuba (6.6%), Iran (4.8%), Eritrea (3.5%), Vietnam (1.2%) and Ethiopia (0.9%).
Asylum • Asylum status is a form of protection available to people who: • Meet the definition of refugee • Are already in the United States • Are seeking admission at a port of entry • You may apply for asylum in the United States regardless of your country of origin or your current immigration status.
Asylum • No limit on the number of asylees who may be admitted annually. • Asylum eligibility has three basic requirements. First, an asylum applicant must establish that he or she fears persecution. Second, the applicant must prove that he or she would be persecuted on account of one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, and social group. Third, an applicant must establish that the government is either involved in the persecution, or unable to control the conduct of private actors.
Refugees and Asylum • Refugees and asylum seekers must demonstrate that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, and cannot resettle in another country. • This does not include anyone who ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers • If, after a year, conditions are no safer, both refugees and asylees can apply for a U.S. green card (permanent residence). • Work authorization may be obtained on application to USCIS. • The Refugee Act of 1980 governs U.S. asylum policy as well as refugee procedures.
US Annual Refugee Resettlement Ceilings, 1980 to 2011 Source: migrationinformation.org
Refugee Arrivals by Initial State of Residence (2010) Source: migrationinformation.org
Refugees and Asylees Granted Lawful Permanent Residence, 1995-2010 Source: migrationinformation.org
For all immigrant categories: • Department of Homeland Security Yearbook of Immigration Statistics • http://www.dhs.gov/yearbook-immigrationstatistics
Lecture Five: Refugees and Asylum
Refugee resettlement to the United States by region, 1990-2005(Source: Migration Policy Institute)
Refugee • Refugee status is a form of protection that may be granted to people who meet the definition of refugee and who are of special humanitarian concern to the United States. Refugees are generally people outside of their country who are unable or unwilling to return home because they fear serious harm.
Refugees • The annual number of refugees to be admitted to the United States is determined by the President, through a proposal sent to Congress. • A total of 73,293 persons were admitted to the United States as refugees during 2010. The leading countries of nationality for refugee admissions were Iraq (24.6%), Burma (22.8%), Bhutan (16.9%), Somalia (6.7%), Cuba (6.6%), Iran (4.8%), Eritrea (3.5%), Vietnam (1.2%) and Ethiopia (0.9%).
Asylum • Asylum status is a form of protection available to people who: • Meet the definition of refugee • Are already in the United States • Are seeking admission at a port of entry • You may apply for asylum in the United States regardless of your country of origin or your current immigration status.
Asylum • No limit on the number of asylees who may be admitted annually. • Asylum eligibility has three basic requirements. First, an asylum applicant must establish that he or she fears persecution. Second, the applicant must prove that he or she would be persecuted on account of one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, and social group. Third, an applicant must establish that the government is either involved in the persecution, or unable to control the conduct of private actors.
Refugees and Asylum • Refugees and asylum seekers must demonstrate that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, and cannot resettle in another country. • This does not include anyone who ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers • If, after a year, conditions are no safer, both refugees and asylees can apply for a U.S. green card (permanent residence). • Work authorization may be obtained on application to USCIS. • The Refugee Act of 1980 governs U.S. asylum policy as well as refugee procedures.
US Annual Refugee Resettlement Ceilings, 1980 to 2011 Source: migrationinformation.org
Refugee Arrivals by Initial State of Residence (2010) Source: migrationinformation.org
Refugees and Asylees Granted Lawful Permanent Residence, 1995-2010 Source: migrationinformation.org
For all immigrant categories: • Department of Homeland Security Yearbook of Immigration Statistics • http://www.dhs.gov/yearbook-immigrationstatistics
