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Refugee Resettlement Programs
Resettlement programs provide permanent solutions for individuals with special humanitarian concerns who have left their home country and refuse to return. This is due to an experience or fear of persecution as a result of their religion, race, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group.
Refugee resettlement programs allow these individuals to be admitted into the United States (US). They can apply for a green card to become permanent residents in the US after one year and for US citizenship after five years of permanent residency.
In consultation with Congress, the President determines the number of refugees to be accepted yearly. The refugee admissions ceiling set by President Joe Biden for the fiscal year of 2023 is 125,000.
The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) reviews the refugee situation and accepts referrals for particularly vulnerable refugees who need the protection provided by third-country resettlement. The resettlement program provides the opportunity for refugees to begin a new life without fear of violence or persecution.
The Refugee Admissions Process
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) refers refugees to the US for resettlement.
- The Resettlement Support Center (RSC) vets and prescreens refugees, ensuring they fall within the designated nationalities.
- Refugee case files are created and prepared for US resettlement consideration.
- Refugees are prepared for their adjudication interview with refugee officers from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the USCIS, conducts interviews to determine whether the refugee is eligible for resettlement in the US.
- Refugees must complete health screening and security checks after a successful interview with the USCIS.
- Refugees complete cultural orientation classes that educate them on the culture and norms in the US.
- The RSC requests sponsorship assurance from a refugee resettlement agency.
- The refugee resettlement agency sends a request for sponsorship assurance to the US and makes all necessary arrangements at the local level to receive the refugee.
- The International Organization of Migration coordinates transportation and travel arrangements.
- Refugees arrive in the US and are welcomed by a domestic resettlement agency that assists them as they start their new life in Houston.
Resettlement Screening Process
The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State is responsible for screening refugee applicants. Refugee’s fingerprints and biographic data are vetted against Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), DHS, and Department of Defense biometric databases.
These federal agencies will seek information about the refugee, including connections to illegal activities, criminal organizations, terrorist groups, and outstanding immigration or criminal violations.
What Is the Average Refugee Resettlement Processing Time
The total processing time for the resettlement process varies based on the refugee’s location, policy changes, or other administrative circumstances. Nevertheless, it takes an average period of eighteen to twenty-four months (from the refugee’s initial UNHCR referral to their arrival in the US) to process a refugee resettlement application.
Who Funds the Refugee Resettlement Program?
Resettlement programs are funded through the Department of State (DOS) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition, the DOS provides refugees with a travel loan through its Reception and Placement (RP) program.
After the refugee arrives in the US, they will begin the repayment of the travel loan. The replacement program will also provide the resettlement agency with a one-time sum to finance refugees (e.g., food, clothing, and furnishings) during their first thirty to ninety days in the US.
The HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement works with states and non-governmental organizations to assist refugees by providing them with limited cash and medical services after three months of stay in the US.
Houston Refugee Resettlement Agencies
Houston is one of the country’s leading cities in refugee resettlement. Its refugee agencies offer case management and cash assistance programs to eligible refugees. Further, they provide limited resources to get the refugees started in their new lives.
Refugee centers assist newly arrived refugees approved by the federal government in becoming self-sufficient through cultural orientation, family reunification, job development, and resettlement.
They help secure housing, food, clothing, and other necessities the refugee may require during their first few months in the US. They also provide access to experienced social workers, job opportunities, and language skills that help refugees to adapt to Houston communities.
Eligibility for Refugee Resettlement Services in Houston
The following individuals qualify for refugee services in Houston:
- Refugees
- Asylees
- Special Immigrant visa holders (from Afghanistan and Iraq)
- Cuban-Haitian entrants
- Central American minors
- Unaccompanied children
- Human trafficking victims
- Survivors of torture
- Other vulnerable populations (that are deemed eligible by the HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement)
Services Provided at Refugee Resettlement Agencies
- Airport pickup
- Case management
- Cultural orientation
- Community support
- Education programs
- Employment training
- Entrepreneurship programs
- Housing and furniture
- Job placement
- English language learning (ESL classes)
- Financial assistance
- Interpretation or translation
- servicesImmigration services
- Public benefits assistance
- Referrals to social service agencies
- Vocational training
Refugee services are usually free for all eligible individuals, and refugees are encouraged to secure jobs quickly to attain self-sufficiency.
Refugee Resettlement Organizations in Houston
- The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services
- Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
- Amaanah Refugee Services
- Refugee Services of Texas (Houston)
- YMCA International Services (Houston)
- An-Nisa Hope Center
- Olive Branch Muslim Family Services
- Catholic Charities – Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
- The Afghan Allies Program
How to Support Refugees Coming to Houston
Refugee resettlement organizations often require the following support:
- Community sponsors
- Donations
- Household items
- Volunteers
- Language translators
Help From an Immigration Attorney
Honesty and experience equal results, and we provide honest advice and consistently exceptional results for our clients. With so many families looking to resettle in the US, refugees usually ask themselves, “how can an immigration lawyer help with my Houston resettlement process?”
Our lawyers can provide full details about the refugee resettlement program and help you obtain legal status. With our help, refugees can begin their lives in the US with a sense of security.
If you are a refugee resident in the US without legal status, you may qualify for asylum. Immigration lawyers at Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law, can assist you by providing important info about the Immigration Court. We can also offer you legal representation in your immigration proceedings.
