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The US has taken in many refugees in just this year we hit over 10,000 refugees

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The US has taken in many refugees in just this year we hit over 10,000 refugees

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The United States admitted its 10,000th Syrian refugee this week in a resettlement program announced by President Obama last fall, according to The White House.

Under pressure from Europe and other countries confronting the global migration crisis last fall, Mr. Obama had raised the number of Syrian refugees who would be offered legal status to at least 10,000 in the 2016 fiscal year.

Where Refugees Were Placed

The refugees who have arrived from Syria since 2012 have been placed in 231 towns and cities.

Some of them have reached large cities like Chicago and Houston, but most have been sent to more affordable, medium-size cities. Boise, Idaho, has accepted more refugees than New York and Los Angeles combined; Worcester, Mass., has taken in more than Boston.

Refugees placed each year

With the 10,000 admitted this fiscal year, the United States has now accepted nearly 12,000 Syrian refugees since the civil war began five years ago.

Before the recent surge in admissions, Syrians were just a small percentage of all refugees allowed into the United States. In the 2015 fiscal year, just 2 percent of the 70,000 refugees admitted were from Syria. The majority were from Myanmar, Iraq and Somalia.

In the past, the United States has admitted far larger numbers of refugees. In 1979, it provided sanctuary to 111,000 Vietnamese refugees, and in 1980, it added another 207,000. Around the same time, the country took in more than 120,000 Cuban refugees during the Mariel boatlift, including around 80,000 in one month alone.

To ease integration, Syrian refugees have been placed in communities where there are other Syrian immigrants.

More than 150,000 Syrians already live in the United States, according to census figures, and refugees who have relatives in the country are likely to be resettled with or near them.

Those who do not have family in the United States are placed where jobs are more plentiful and the cost of housing is low.

People with Syrian ancestry, per 100,000 residents

Refugees receive help finding work and housing, but they are expected to become self-sufficient within a year.

Nadim Fawzi Jouriyeh, a former construction worker from Syria, is among the latest group of refugees to be accepted, according to The Associated Press. Mr. Jouriyeh, his wife and four children are headed to San Diego, which has accepted more Syrian refugees since 2012 than any other city.

Raad Adayleh, The Associated Press

Most of the refugees have been admitted in the past three months.

While Mr. Obama's resettlement program got off to a slow start, the administration reached its 10,000-refugee goal a month ahead of schedule. Eight months into the program, the United States had accepted only a quarter of the target.

One challenge was that the Syrian refugees were subjected to an additional layer of background checks, which extended a lengthy vetting process.

Source: Refugee Processing Center, U.S. State Department; Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Migration Policy Institute; socialexplorer.com

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U.S. Reaches Goal of Admitting 10,000 Syrian Refugees. Here's Where They Went. (Published 2016)

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The United States admitted its 10,000th Syrian refugee this week in a resettlement program announced by President Obama last fall, according to The White House. Under pressure from Europe and other countries confronting the global migration crisis last fall, Mr. Obama had raised the number of Syrian refugees who would be offered legal status to at least 10,000 in the 2016 fiscal year.

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since 2014, it seems Germany has set up most refugees, which is understandable considering the far yet nearby distance.

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At the time of writing, the number of Syrian refugees stands at 2,386,087 - more than double the entire population of Cyprus.

The crisis is so severe that last year, the United Nations launched the biggest appeal in its 69-year history. But the response so far has not matched the scale or nature of the crisis.

Last year, the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) published a document emphasising that states need to provide more than "financial, economic, and technical support".

More specifically, the UN has called on states to do more to help Syrian refugees with resettlement, humanitarian admission, and family reunification. They explain:

"resettlement involves the selection and transfer of refugees from a state in which they have sought protection to a third state which has agreed to admit them as refugees. Humanitarian admission is a similar, but expedited, process providing a solution for those in greatest need."

The programme aims to help 30,000 Syrians through such measures by the end of 2014 - 1.3% of the total number of Syrian refugees and 0.5% of the 6.5 million people who have been displaced from their homes but remain within Syria's borders (knowns as IDPs or internally displaced persons).

By October 2013, 16 countries had together offered a total of 10,000 places. By January, that number had grown to 19 countries and 18,000 places. This is how the list currently looks once the UK's recent offer of 500 has been added. The table beneath shows the detailed breakdown

Where are they at the moment?

In the case of resettlement mentioned above, the 'third state' is most often one of Syria's neighbouring countries - each of whom is struggling to cope with the number of refugees that have crossed their borders. The chart below shows the number of registered refugees in each of those countries, their total population size as well as the amount of money they have requested in aid.

Who is a vulnerable refugee?

The UK has sought to emphasise that their participation in the programme is based strictly on need. Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, said "the UK will be providing refuge to some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees" which may appear confusing to those who believe that being a refugee is, in itself, a source of vulnerability.

To clarify, Clegg went on to add "the UNHCR - which backs our new resettlement programme - has said the highest priority should go to women and girls who have experienced or are at risk of sexual violence; the elderly; and survivors of torture and individuals with disabilities, so that's who we'll target."

In addition to the types of vulnerability mentioned by the deputy prime minister, the UN also cites LGBT refugees, those in need of family reunification and those belonging to minority groups as individuals who are particularly vulnerable.

Though the pledge by the UK may seem small in light of the scale of the Syrian crisis, and the number of places offered by other states, domestic political considerations continue to heavily affect decisions about UK contributions.

Topics

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At the time of writing, the number of Syrian refugees stands at 2,386,087 - more than double the entire population of Cyprus. The crisis is so severe that last year, the United Nations launched the biggest appeal in its 69-year history. But the response so far has not matched the scale or nature of the crisis.

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with the civil war going on, nearly 5 million Syrians have taken refuge elsewhere.
refugees are still being made to this hour, hopefully things will clam down.

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According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, almost 5 million Syrians have fled to other countries to escape the Syrian civil war. The United States took in more than 12,500 of those refugees in the last year, a policy that has created controversy around the country.

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The executive order, which sparked protests around the world, also stops all refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days. Syrian refugees are barred indefinitely, pending a review of the screening process.

This week on 60 Minutes, correspondent Bill Whittaker has an inside look at what the United State's vetting process for Syrian refugees was before the Executive Order. In the clip above, Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, explains the step-by-step procedure.

"Of all the different ways to enter this country as an immigrant, doing so as a refugee is probably the most cumbersome and time-consuming," Johnson says.

He explains that the process begins with the United Nations. Long before refugees make the journey to a new home, they are interviewed multiple times by the U.N. for their vital statistics - including where they came from and who they know - and given an iris scan to establish their identity. After that initial assessment, the U.N. then refers refugees to a country for resettlement.

"Of all the different ways to enter this country as an immigrant, doing so as a refugee is probably the most cumbersome and time consuming." Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson

If that country is the U.S., a State Department resettlement center takes over, runs background checks, and creates a file on the refugee. From there, the Department of Homeland Security, led by specially trained interrogators, conducts additional interviews looking for gaps or inconsistencies in their stories. All that information is then run though U.S. security databases for any red flags. If approved, the refugee goes through medical screening by a team of doctors prior to arriving in the country.

The entire process, Johnson told 60 Minutes, takes between 18 and 24 months.

Gina Kassem oversees the State Department's refugee resettlement program in North Africa and the Middle East. She says the primary focus is on those in need.

"Mostly we focus on victims of torture, survivors of violence, women-headed households, [and] a lot of severe medical cases," she says.

According to Kassem, less than half of one percent of those from Syria who resettle in the United States are single young men. Those who are qualify as among the most vulnerable, either because of severe medical needs or minors who don't have family to support them.

"It is single digits how many single young men would be part of our resettlement program," Kassem says.

When refugees do arrive in the U.S., they're expected to repay the government for their plane tickets. As Kassem explains in the clip above, the government asks refugees resettled in the U.S. to repay the fare six months after they arrive, giving them time to find a job. That money then helps additional refugees resettle in the U.S., which encourages the refugees to repay their fare.

"Because they are indebted to the United States for taking then in," she says, "they want more people in their situation who are fleeing the violence to be able to take advantage of the program."
To find out more about the organizations mentioned in Bill Whitaker's report "Finding Refuge," here are their names and links:
United Nations Refugee Agency: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us
World Relief: http://www.worldrelief.org/
Lutherans Immigration and Refugee Service: https://lirs.org/

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According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, almost 5 million Syrians have fled to other countries to escape the Syrian civil war. The United States took in more than 12,500 of those refugees in the last year, a policy that has created controversy around the country.

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in the 5th year of a furry convention in Canada, Syrian refugees were placed in the same hotel as the convention.
there was little to worry about since the kids loved the big animals with big open arms.

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Two seemingly disparate worlds collided in Vancouver recently to utterly heartwarming results when a new group of Syrian refugees found themselves in the same hotel as a furry convention.

Last weekend, hundreds of furry enthusiasts - a fandom that celebrates anthropomorphic animals, often involving art and costumes - descended on Vancouver for the fifth annual VancouFur event, with an estimated 800 guests in attendance at the Executive Airport Plaza in Richmond, outside Vancouver.

That same hotel has been housing Syrian refugee families as part of Canada's resettlement program. Organizers for the convention worked with the hotel to make sure attendees were aware of the refugees and to be sensitive to any potential "culture shock."

The letter warned conference attendees that the costumes and activities around the convention would likely be "a major culture shock" to the attendees and asked attendees to be respectful of the refugees, to make them "feel welcome and safe."

Turns out there was little to be worried about as what officials apparently feared would be a culture clash wound up a wonderful moment of bonding between the two groups, as the conference attendees - and their costumes - were a huge hit with the refugee children.

One of many highlites [sic] to me was when the new group of Syrian Refugees children came in and got to interact with us. To them we were cartoons come to life, to us was a means to display our acting performance to a very appreciative audiance [sic]. Win win all around. The parents interacted too and took photos with us as well, so kewl.

Even more photos were posted across social media as the convention wound down.

"The interactions between our attendees and the Syrians were amazing," Trapa Civet, Vice Chairman of VancouFur told Mashable in an email. "I feel like the moment was just as magical for the performers as it was for the refugees."

Civet said they said advised attendees to be respectful of the refugees and even went to the trouble sending letters to the refugees translated into Arabic inviting them to join. The two groups crossed paths on Sunday morning.

In the end, they said, there was no shock at all but, rather, fun: "It is always a amazing feeling to see the expression of glee in a child's eyes in response to your costume and actions. Even the adults chose to jump in and get some hugs from our animal friends."

Still so proud of how public-friendly @VancouFUR was this year! Seeing how thrilled the refugee kids were with the fursuits was my favorite!

- Apoxon (VF table 22) (@apoxon) March 9, 2016

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

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Syrian refugees get warm welcome at Vancouver Furry convention

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Two seemingly disparate worlds collided in Vancouver recently to utterly heartwarming results when a new group of Syrian refugees found themselves in the same hotel as a furry convention.

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Refugees have made their way to Ohio in some areas such as Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus.

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Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 1:05 PM

With few answers yet as to why a group of IT aides were fired by House Democratic lawmakers in 2017, a U.S. House panel on Wednesday approved a series of plans designed to tighten internal procedures for internet technology workers who have 'privileged access' to the House internet network, focusing on those who work for multiple members of Congress.

"It's important that we actually get this right," said Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), who led a task force that looked at how to more closely monitor part-time workers known on Capitol Hill "shared employees."

Under the plan, House officials would get 30 days to report back on how they would implement the changes, which Davis said would include 'a much needed background check system.'

"It will strengthen the regulations associated with individuals known as 'shared employees,' who are employed by three or more offices," said Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), the Chairman of the House Administration Committee.

During the committee's meeting on Wednesday, there was never a mention of the name of Imran Awan, a naturalized U.S. citizen who has become the focus of press allegations that he - and his relatives - may have compromised information on the House computer system, while working for several dozen House Democratic offices over a number of years.

No official explanation has been given as yet - by lawmakers or House officials - as to why Awan, his wife, and a handful of their relatives were suddenly terminated, and while no charges have been filed, it was clear from the proposed policy changes advanced on Wednesday that lawmakers believe tighter controls are needed for the future.

The new proposals for U.S. House employees would include:

+ A requirement for background checks "as a condition of privileged access" to the network not only for IT workers, but also for other 'shared employees' who do budget, payroll or other financial work for a lawmaker.

+ Setting up a task force to routinely review polices related to IT workers employed by multiple members of Congress.

+ Develop a new employee ID badge which clearly identifies 'shared employees' who are doing work on Capitol Hill.

+ Make it easier to block access for those workers - not only to the Congressional IT network - but also limit physical access for them if there are issues with the employees.

+ Not allow shared employees to also be engaged in an outside business activity which sells/leases/provides goods or services to any House office.

The changes were approved with little debate in an eleven minute meeting of the House Administration Committee. There were no direct references made to the Awan investigation, and no hints at any further developments in the probe of why Awan, his wife, and relatives were fired in February and March of 2017.

As of now, no charges have been filed for any wrongdoing involving the House IT system, though Awan and his wife, Hina Alvi, face federal bank fraud charges involving a home equity loan.

A federal court hearing on the next step in that fraud case has been postponed repeatedly, and is next scheduled for May 4.

U.S. Capitol Police have refused to make any detailed comments on the investigation into the IT matter.

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U.S.: 82 Syrian refugees resettled in Ohio; none in Dayton area

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Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 1:05 PM With few answers yet as to why a group of IT aides were fired by House Democratic lawmakers in 2017, a U.S. House panel on Wednesday approved a series of plans designed to tighten internal procedures for internet technology workers who have 'privileged access' to the House internet network, focusing on those who work for multiple members of Congress.