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Overview of MA Refugee Resettlement Program Overview of MA Refugee Resettlement Program

Overview of MA Refugee Resettlement Program - PowerPoint Presentation

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Overview of MA Refugee Resettlement Program - PPT Presentation

December 8 2015 DRAFT for BBA 121515 brown bag HISTORY MA Office for Refugees and Immigrants ORI and the Federal Refugee Act of 1980 In 1985 the Massachusetts Office for Refugee Resettlement was designated by MA Executive Order ID: 696171

resettlement refugee state refugees refugee resettlement refugees state screening agencies security process services ori local entry coordinator step medical applicants department iraq

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Slide1

Overview of MA Refugee Resettlement Program

December 8, 2015 DRAFT (for BBA 12/15/15

brown bag)Slide2

HISTORY – MA Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) and the Federal Refugee Act of 1980

In

1985, the Massachusetts Office

for Refugee Resettlement was designated by MA Executive Order 257 to be responsible for refugee affairs in the state. In 1992, the state legislature established the Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI). MGL c. 6, § 205-207.The ORI Executive Director serves as the State Refugee Coordinator in accord with the Refugee Act of 1980 and state law. MGL c. 6, § 206.Federal Refugee Act of 1980: “Assistance and services funded under this section shall be provided to refugees without regard to race, religion, nationality, sex, or political opinion.” 8 USC §1522 (a)(5)Purpose of ORI: “To promote the full participation of refugees and immigrants as self-sufficient individuals and families in the economic, social, and civic life of the commonwealth.” MGL c. 6, § 205

2

Draft for Policy Discussion OnlySlide3

MISSION – MA Office of Refugees and Immigrants

FUNDING AND SERVICES:

The

federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) awards grants to ORI to administer a variety of refugee services, including up to 8 months of cash and medical assistance, and up to 5 years of employment services, a medical screening upon arrival (provided through an agreement with the MA Dept of Public Health) and foster care for refugee minors (provided through an agreement with the MA Dept of Children and Families). ORI contracts with a network of providers for the delivery of direct services to refugees. Providers include Refugee Resettlement Agencies and ethnic community-based organizations, which all have the capacity to serve the diverse cultural and linguistic needs of newcomer populations. 3Draft for Policy Discussion OnlySlide4

BACKGROUND: U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

4

Draft for Policy Discussion Only

Humanitarian ProgramA refugee is someone who has fled from his or her home country and cannot return because he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution based on religion, race, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social groupMore than 60 nationalities assisted within the United States (over 20 nationalities in Massachusetts)Currently top countries from which refugees resettle are Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, and SomaliaEmerging groups will be from the Democratic Republic of Congo and SyriaRefugee Admissions Program, est. 19752015 ceiling of 70,000 refugees nationwide2016 ceiling of 85,000 refugees nationwideAdmissions Program AgenciesThe Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), U.S. Department of State.U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Nongovernmental Refugee Resettlement Agencies (with a combined total of about 350 affiliated offices across the

U.S.).Slide5

The U.S. Department of State, in a Background Briefing on Refugee Screening and Admissions held on Nov. 17, 2015, stated that:

“all refugees of all nationalities considered for admission to the U.S. undergo intensive security screening, and this involves multiple federal intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies. . . . The safeguards that are used include biometrics, or fingerprint and biometric checks, and a lengthy in-person overseas interview that is carried out by specially trained

DHS [Department of Homeland Security] officers. . . .Mindful of the particular conditions of the Syria crisis, Syrian refugees go through additional forms of security screening. And we continue to examine options for further enhancement for screening refugees, the details of which are classified. But the classified details are regularly shared with relevant congressional committees.” DOS reports that: “Worldwide, the average processing time is about one year to 18 months. But every case is different, and processing times vary.”5Refugee Processing – Security Screening & TimelineSlide6

Step 1: Many refugee applicants identify themselves to the U.N. Refugee Agency, UNHCR. UNHCR, then: ​​Collects identifying documentsPerforms initial assessment

Collects biodata: name, address, birthday, place of birth, etc.

Collects biometrics: iris scans (for Syrians, and other refugee populations in the Middle East)

Interviews applicants to confirm refugee status and the need for resettlement Initial information checked againOnly applicants who are strong candidates for resettlement move forward (less than 1% of global refugee population).6The Screening Process for Refugee Entry Into the U.S. (Source:https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/11/20/infographic-screening-process-refugee-entry-united-states)Slide7

Step 2: Applicants are received by a federally-funded Resettlement Support Center (RSC) which:​​ Collects identifying documentsCreates an applicant file

Compiles information to conduct biographic security

checks

Step 3: U.S. security agencies screen the candidate, including:National Counterterrorism Center/Intelligence CommunityFBIDepartment of Homeland SecurityState Department7The Screening Process for Refugee Entry Into the U.S., cont.Slide8

The screening looks for indicators, like:Information that the individual is a security riskConnections to known bad actorsOutstanding warrants/immigration or criminal violationsDHS conducts an enhanced review of Syrian cases, which may be referred to USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate for review. Research that is used by the interviewing officer informs lines of question related to the applicant’s eligibility and credibility.

8

The Screening Process for Refugee Entry Into the U.S., cont.Slide9

Step 4: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/USCIS interview:Interviews are conducted by USCIS Officers specially trained for interviews​​Fingerprints are collected and submitted (biometric check)

Re-interviews can be conducted if fingerprint results or new information raises questions. If new biographic information is identified by USCIS at an interview, additional security checks on the information are conducted. USCIS may place a case on hold to do additional research or investigation. Otherwise, the process continues.

9

The Screening Process for Refugee Entry Into the U.S., cont.Slide10

Step 5: Biometric security checks:Applicant’s fingerprints are taken by U.S. government employeesFingerprints are screened against the FBI’s biometric database.Fingerprints are screened against the DHS biometric database, containing watch-list information and previous immigration encounters in the U.S. and overseas.

Fingerprints are screened against the U.S. Department of Defense biometric database, which includes fingerprint records captured in Iraq and other locations.

If not already halted, this is the end point for cases with security concerns. Otherwise, the process continues.

10The Screening Process for Refugee Entry Into the U.S., cont.Slide11

Step 6: Medical check:The need for medical screening is determined​​This is the end point for cases denied due to medical reasons. Refugees may be provided medical treatment for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis

.

Step 7: Cultural

orientation and assignment to domestic resettlement locations:​​Applicants complete cultural orientation classes.An assessment is made by a U.S.-based non-governmental organization to determine the best resettlement location. Considerations may include family ties in a certain geographic area, and health needs. 11The Screening Process for Refugee Entry Into the U.S., cont.Slide12

Step 8: Travel:​​International Organization for Migration books travelPrior to entry in the United States, applicants are subject to:

Screening from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center-Passenger

The Transportation Security Administration’s Secure Flight Program

This is the end point for some applicants. Applicants who have no flags continue the process.U.S. Arrival:​​All refugees are required to apply for a green card within a year of their arrival to the United States, which triggers:Another set of security procedures with the U.S. government.12The Screening Process for Refugee Entry Into the U.S., cont.Slide13

YEARLY CONSULTATION with State Partners re Refugee Admissions to the State

The number of overseas refugees to be resettled by a local Resettlement Agency is determined by the Department of State/Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (

PRM

) after reviewing the local Refugee Resettlement Agencies yearly proposal, referred to as an Abstract.Abstract/State Approval ProcessLocal Resettlement Agencies prepare an Abstract which outlines the ability of the resettlement office, other service providers, and community capacity to receive and serve the proposed number of refugees, taking into account housing, employment, education, public transportation, and medical resources.While preparing their Abstract, the local Refugee Resettlement Agencies initiate a local consultation process with local stakeholders to discuss the proposed number of overseas refugees. The Agencies also request State Refugee Coordinator and the State Refugee Health Coordinator involvement with the consultations. PRM forwards copies of submitted Abstracts to the State Refugee Coordinator for the Coordinator’s review and comment. The MA State Refugee Coordinator (ORI) reviews each Abstract (with input from the State Refugee Health Coordinator), and then reviews any ORI concerns with the local Resettlement Agencies prior to providing detailed comments and recommendations to PRM on the local resettlement plans.

13Slide14

PRM requires all local Refugee Resettlement Agencies to convene quarterly consultations with stakeholders involved in the resettlement process.

Stakeholders include local governance, community based organizations, state and local public agencies providing services to refugees, the state refugee coordinator (ORI) and the state refugee health coordinator (DPH).

The

consultations in Massachusetts take place in-person around the first month of each federal fiscal year quarter (October, January, April, and July)Since April of 2014, ORI has supported Resettlement Agencies coordinating their previously separate consultations into formalized and joint “Welcoming Network” consultations held regionally. The “Welcoming Networks” are organized into four consultations to cover five regions of the Commonwealth: Hampden County (Springfield, West Springfield, Westfield); Merrimack Region (Lowell); Worcester County (Worcester); and Eastern Massachusetts, which includes the North Shore (Lynn) and Suffolk County (Boston and Chelsea) regions. During each consultation, year to date refugee arrivals and projections covering the upcoming quarter and the annual federal fiscal year, and other pertinent data, are provided. Resettlement agencies also share the characteristics of arriving refugee populations including nationality, ethnicity, average family size and composition, language and education background, and medical conditions.14QUARTERLY CONSULTATION with State Partners re Quarterly Projections for Refugee Admissions to StateSlide15

DEMOGRAPHICS – Massachusetts Refugee Resettlement Program

Federal Fiscal Year

New Enrollees

Refugees ResettledOther CategoriesNumber of SyriansTop three Countries of Origin2011

1981

1556

425

0

Bhutan

Iraq

Burma

2012

2198

1611

587

1

Bhutan

Iraq

Somalia

2013

2403

1875

528

8

Iraq

Bhutan

Somalia

2014

2450

2017

435

4

Iraq

Bhutan

Somalia

2015

2086

1759

327

85

Iraq

Somalia

Bhutan

2016

2244

projected1750 – 1925projected446projectedUnknown(7 individuals as of October 31, 2015)Unknown(Similar Populations Anticipated)

15Slide16

FFY16 – Resettlement Agencies in Massachusetts

PRM

contracts with Refugee Resettlement Agencies, listed below, to receive overseas refugee arrivals and to provide reception and placement services.

ORI also contracts with these Refugee Resettlement Agencies to provide services under the Massachusetts Refugee Resettlement Program.Ascentria Care AllianceWest SpringfieldWorcesterCatholic Charities of BostonCatholic Charities of WorcesterInternational Institute of New EnglandBostonLowellJewish Family Service of MetroWestJewish Family Services of Western MARefugee and Immigrant Assistance CenterBostonWorcester16Draft for Policy Discussion Only