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Lutheran Social Services of North DakotaNew Americans

Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota

� 20 different programs such as¡ Healthy Families¡ Day Report¡ Senior Companions¡ Restorative Justice¡ Adoption Option¡ Divert¡ New Americans

Asylee

� An alien in the U.S. or at a port of entry who is found to be unable to return to their country of nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

SIV (Special Immigrant Visa)

� People who were employed on behalf of the U.S. government and have experienced or are experiencing an ongoing serious threat due to that employment.

� Mainly from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Refugee

� A person who is outside their country of citizenship because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

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Somalia Somali Refugees

Bhutan Bhutanese Refugees

Top Origin Countries for Refugees in 2013

Afghanistan (2.6M)

Syria (2.5M)

Somalia (1.1M)

Sudan (650,000)

DRC (499,600)

Myanmar (480,000)

www.immigrationpolicy.org

Refugee Arrivals by Initial State of Residence, 2015

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� United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees¡ Mandated to lead and coordinate international action to

protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. ¡ Working in 123 countries and assisting 14 million refugees

(2014)¡ Ensure that everyone can exercise the right to find safe refuge

÷ Repatriation÷ Local Integration÷ Third Country Resettlement

¢ Register refugees and make referrals to countries who do resettlement who then conduct screening process.

www.unhcr.org

Third Country Resettlement

� Process takes an average of 5-7 years for application and screenings

� Each year, about 1% of refugees apply for resettlement (of the 14 million worldwide)

� Which countries resettle? ¡ United States – top resettlement country¡ Australia¡ Canada¡ Nordic/European Countries

Screening Process

� UNHCR makes referral to U.S.� Department of Homeland Security conducts refugee

interviews and determines individual eligibility for refugee status in the U.S.¡ Extensive interviewing, screening, and security clearance

process¡ Medical screenings¡ Cultural Orientation

Here is the link that I wanted to include for you that has an info graphic that highlights the refugee screening process)https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/11/20/infographic-screening-process-refugee-entry-united-states

Declared a “refugee” by

UNHCR

Referral to U.S./Gather

data

Security checks (State Dept

coord)

In-person interview (DHS

- USCIS)Medical

screeningsMatch with

sponsor agency

Cultural orientation

Second security screening-

(DHS)

Eligible to Fly to the United

States

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Referral Process

� After a refugee has been accepted for resettlement in the U.S., they are assigned to a private voluntary agency (VOLAG) to determine where they will live.¡ If they have relatives in the U.S., every effort will be made to

place them near their relatives. ¡ 9 VOLAGS in the US and LSSND works with 2 of them

÷ Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS)÷ Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM)

Grand Forks Office

� Grand Forks LSS New Americans Staff:¡ Resettlement Coordinator: Reginald Tarr¡ Case Manager: Sarah Ogunti¡ Case Manager: Hope Tschaekofske¡ Employment Specialist: Saido Ahmed¡ Immigration Specialist: Shyam Rai¡ Interpreters¡ Interns: Social Work Dept.

Pre-Arrival

� Get notification 2-3 weeks before from VOLAG’s� Meet with US Ties (if applicable)� Get apartment� Furnish apartment� Notify community partners & schedule

appointments

Core Services

� Airport Reception & Culturally appropriate hot meal� Apply for Social Security number � Food Stamps/Medicaid� Medical & Dental Appointments� ELL Registration� School Registration� Employment Services� Cultural Orientation� R&P/RCA� Travel Loan Payment

Employment Services

� Employment Assessments � Employment Orientation� Job Search� Application Assistance� Interview Practice� Resume Building� Transportation

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Resettlement in US

� Each year the President, in consultation with Congress, determines the numerical ceiling for refugee admissions. ¡ For Fiscal Year 2016 the proposed ceiling is 85,000¡ Since 1975, the U.S. has resettled 3,252,000 refugees

� Local 2015 Statistics¡ Total in North Dakota: 506

÷ Fargo: 328 ÷ Grand Forks: 107÷ Bismarck: 40÷ West Fargo: 1, Moorhead: 28, Jamestown: 2

FederalFiscalYear-2015ArrivalsforNorthDakotaTypeofarrival Oct-14 Nov-14Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15Mar-15Apr-15 May-

15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 FY-Totals

NewArrivals 40 43 44 36 30 43 13 31 47 50 54 75 506SecondaryMigrants 29 3 4 10 8 10 21 14 20 5 6 3 133Asylees 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 8Parolee 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 4TOTAL 71 46 48 46 40 53 35 48 69 55 60 80 651CountryofOriginAfghanistan 4 1 6 1 12 2%Bhutan 27 16 1 16 19 9 8 21 18 42 24 201 40%Burma 4 4 1%Congo 5 2 1 2 10 3 6 4 2 35 7%Eretria 1 1 0%Ethiopia 3 3 1%Iran 3 3 1%Iraq 6 16 19 17 3 8 6 10 21 106 21%Somalia 2 1 23 2 5 7 2 23 19 22 8 22 136 27%Ukraine 1 3 1 5 1%TOTAL 40 43 44 36 30 43 13 31 47 50 54 75 506 100%LIRSIndividuals 19 25 32 32 25 23 8 14 25 38 39 48 328 65%Cases 7 14 9 14 10 10 4 6 9 15 18 18 134US-tieCases 6 14 5 10 10 6 3 5 7 8 12 12 98 73%NoUS-tieCases 1 0 4 4 0 4 1 1 2 7 6 6 36 27%EMMIndividuals 21 18 12 4 5 20 5 17 22 12 18 24 178 35%Cases 10 8 4 1 3 7 3 10 9 5 7 13 80US-tieCases 10 8 4 1 3 7 3 5 7 5 7 13 73 91%NoUS-tieCases 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 7 9%LocationFARGO 29 22 33 29 11 34 9 16 29 30 46 40 328 65%WESTFARGO 1 1 0%JAMESTOWN 2 2 0%MOORHEAD 1 9 4 4 3 3 4 28 6%BISMARCK 5 2 6 3 1 8 2 1 7 5 40 8%GRANDFORKS 5 10 1 0 15 1 1 15 16 16 4 23 107 21%

TOTAL 506 100%

How have your perceptions changed? Q&A