Catholic Diocese of Arlington 
Office of Migration and Refugee Services
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Catholic Diocese of Arlington
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Who are "refugees"? The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) defines a "refugee" as a person who has fled his/her country of nationality (or habitual residence) and who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of a "well-founded" fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. This definition of a "refugee" excludes those who have left their homes only to seek a more prosperous life. What happens to refugees as they flee persecution? The refugee journey is a long one. Many refugees are forced to leave their homes without warning and cannot even bring basic necessities with them. When these individuals flee, they try to get to a country where they will be allowed to stay until they are allowed to migrate as a refugee. For every person who gets to a refugee camp, there is one who does not. Once the individual reaches the refugee camp, he/she is often placed in an overcrowded and under-supplied camp and exposed to disease, crime, and other harsh conditions. The individual usually stays in the camp until the United States or another country accepts his/her application for residency. The wait for acceptance ranges from one month to eight years or more. Less than ½% of those who apply for refugee status are actually approved to come to the United States. How does a refugee become a refugee? The process for proving "refugee" status is often very difficult. The countries that accept refugees for resettlement examine the lists of individuals and determine if any of these individuals meet their own criteria for resettlement. This process can take a long time; even after a refugee is accepted as eligible for resettlement, there is often a very long wait for an available slot in the country that has accepted his/her application. What are the options for refugees? How many refugees resettle in the U.S. each year? The United States limits the number of refugees accepted for resettlement each year. During the year 2006, 70,000 refugees were approved to resettle in the U.S. but only approximately 50,000 were accepted. Who processes the refugee applications in the United States? The acceptance of individuals for resettlement in the United States is the responsibility of the Homeland Security Office of the U.S. Department of Justice. The State Department oversees programs abroad to prepare refugees for their arrival in the U.S. as well as the allocation of funds and placement of refugees with Voluntary Agencies (VOLAG'S) for refugee reception and placement within the U.S. Generally, the State Department contracts with national VOLAG's to resettle refugees in various locations and ensure that immediate survival needs are met and to provide services that will enable the refugees to achieve financial self-sufficiency as rapidly as possible. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) is one such VOLAG. What are the responsibilities of the U.S. concerning refugees? Besides moral concern for the safety of fellow human beings, as a signatory of the United Nations Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, the U.S. is legally obligated to provide for the safety of refugees. As such, the U.S. is obligated to uphold the rights of refugees including the basic civil rights, the right to asylum, access to medical care, education, and employment. In order to fulfill this obligation, refugees in the U.S. are eligible for food stamps, low income housing, and educational services. What are the responsibilities of refugees in the US? Refugees must obey all the laws and regulations of the country in which they reside. In the United States, refugees pay income tax and pay into Social Security. How do refugees end up in Northern Virginia? Arlington Diocese Migration and Refugee Services is an affiliate of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS). It works closely with U.S. government agencies such as the Departments of State, Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice. How many refugees come to Northern Virginia each year? Prior to September 11, 2001, over 1,100 new refugees arrived in Northern Virginia each year. Due to security concerns, this number has been greatly reduced since that time. What countries do refugees presently come from? Those resettled by the Arlington Diocese Migration and Refugee Services come from countries such as Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, Tibet, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba, Columbia, Haiti and Russia among others. What does a sponsor do? After the Department of State assigns a refugee case to an agency, the refugee family or refugee individual is then assigned a sponsor. The sponsor can be a church, family, or the agency itself. The sponsor works with the refugee to ensure that all basic needs (e.g. food, housing, clothing, cultural orientation, English classes, and employment) are met. The goal of the sponsor is to make the refugees self-sufficient as soon as possible. |
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