Finding Refuge in the United States

Every year, the United States takes in about 70,000- 80,000 individuals who are in need of a safe place to live. This is part of a global effort to end persecution based on factors like race, religion and political beliefs. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service the U.S. offers refugee protection “based on an inherent belief in human rights and in ending or preventing the persecution of individuals.”

Congress, in conjunction with President, determines the number of refugees that the U.S. will accept for the year. The open spots are then allocated among different regions of the world. Then, people who live in certain designated countries will have the chance to apply for refugee status.

Not just anyone can apply for refugee status. You must be of a designated nationality and come under the processing priorities of the U.S. refugee program. The eligible countries and the processing priorities are adjusted periodically.

If a person is eligible to apply for refugee status then they will be required to prove that they are, in fact, a refugee.

“Refugee” is defined as:

Any person who is outside any country of such person’s nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Basically, the person must show that they have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of being persecuted based on their traits, beliefs, or membership in a group. The applicant is stating that they can’t return to their home country out of fear for their safety. A person who can prove their case will find a new home in the United States assuming that there is nothing which would make them “ineligible.” An otherwise qualified refugee could be “ineligible” for a number of reasons including past violations of U.S. immigration law, being infected with certain communicable diseases, or because the person has engaged in certain criminal activity.