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The Global Refugee Situation
The number of refugees world wide is estimated at about fifteen million with another 26 million people internally displaced. Of these less than one half of one percent qualify for resettlement in a third country. Third country resettlement has greater significance than this figure suggests: it is an indication of the continuing commitment of the western world to be part of the solution to the global refugee crisis, and helps take some of the pressure off asylum countries who may be hosting tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of refugees. Resettlement in a third country is also the third of the durable solutions for refugees (after safe return home, and resettlement in the asylum country) identified by the United Nations.
The Refugee Resettlement Program is the most complex part of UMCOR's overall ministry for refugee and asylum seekers. It involves government and non-governmental organizations and offices, denominational and ecumenical organizations, and the people in the pew in the local church. It provides what may be the most meaningful mission experience at home in the U.S. for a congregation.
United States Policy:
Each refugee who enters the U.S. must meet the U.S. definition of refugee which is based on the language of the UN Geneva Convention 1954-- a person who is unable to return home because of 'persecution or well-rounded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.' In addition, each refugee must also qualify under one of the Refugee Processing Priorities set by the U.S. government for that year, and this further limits the refugees who are eligible from each area. Attached is a summary of the processing priorities for FY 2001 which are applied in each area and into which refugees admitted for the U.S. program must fit.
Each year, usually in the spring, the President proposes refugee numbers for the coming fiscal year. Consultations are held with key members of congress and a determination is made on the number of refugees who are to be admitted. For the current year (FY2001) the ceiling figure is 76,000 allocated as follows:
- Africa 20,000
- East Asia 6,000
- Nr.East/S.Asia 10,000
- Europe 20,000
- NIS/Baltics 17,000
- Lat. Am./Caribbean 3,000
- Unallocated reserve: 4,000
- FY 2001 total: 76,000
All refugees are interviewed overseas--in their countries of asylum or in special in-country processing centers in Russia, Vietnam and Cuba. The case is accepted or rejected after an interview with an officer of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In Sub-Saharan Africa and West Africa, the office of the Joint Voluntary Agency Representative (JVAR), run by Church World Service (CWS) has responsibility for preparing the paperwork and insuring all relevant documents are in the file for refugees throughout the continent who are eligible and who are applying for resettlement. The JVAR office prepares the paper work and insures that all the relevant documents are in the case.
The Refugee Data Center, NYC:
The processing post in the asylum country draws up a brief biographical description of each family or individual and sends them to the Refugee Data Center (RDC) in New York. The biodatas convey basic information-- family composition, age, birthplace, religion, education, job experience. Each week the biodatas are shared among ten resettlement agencies which include Church World Service, Episcopal Migration Ministries, Lutheran Immigration and Resettlement Services (LIRS), and US Catholic Conference (USCC) among others.
Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program (CWS IRP)
The United Methodist Committee on Relief and nine other Protestant church agencies participate in the CWS IRP. CWS distributes the cases it receives from RDC among them. In addition to UMCOR, they include the Presbyterian Church, American Baptist Churches, the United Church of Christ, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Christian Church, the Church of the Brethren, the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church. The refugee staff of these denominations form the ecumenical board which sets policy for IRP.
The Role of UMCOR and the Local Church
UMCOR seeks to involve the local church in the resettlement of refugees. There are many options available-- ranging from providing donations--notably furniture and furnishings, cash, or volunteer support-- to full church sponsorship either by one congregation or a cluster of churches who form a joint planning committee and divide the needs of the sponsorship among themselves. All sponsors are oriented by staff of the local CWS affiliate office which also provides referrals and advice after the refugees arrive.
Refugees sponsored by a prepared, warm and welcoming church secure the best possible start in life in this country. Church sponsors invariably do an excellent job organizing to meet the materials needs of the refugees-- securing an apartment, furnishings, and food for the initial two or three months, as well as assisting in the refugee's job search, enrollment in English classes and registering children in school. Refugees remember the friendship and personal support which helps them to heal and start up again after the trauma of so much loss.
Annual Conference Refugee Coordinators
Each United Methodist annual conference is encouraged (by the Discipline) to name a refugee coordinator to work UMCOR and raise awareness of the plight of refugees worldwide with special focus for refugees and other newcomers in their conference. They are asked to promote refugee ministry by such activities as providing articles/stories for conference newspapers, participating in the work of the local refugee project (perhaps by serving on the board), or Justice for Our Neighbors site, working closely making presentations to local churches and promoting the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. The refugee coordinator provides a vital link with the annual conference serving on the conference board of global ministries or its equivalent missions committee.
