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1 1 (January 11, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govyai0001 and id is 1 raw text is: CogesinlReerh1evc 0 Updated January 11, 2019 Global Refugee Resettlement: Selected Issues and Questions As the number of refugees worldwide reached unprecedented levels in recent years, Congress has demonstrated a continued interest in refugee resettlement, although such opportunities are available to only a small percentage of the global refugee population. This report does not discuss the refugee admissions process to the United States (for more information, see CRS Report RL31269, Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policy.) Current Refugee Crisis The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) anticipates that in 2019 more than 132 million people worldwide will require humanitarian assistance and protection as a result of conflict and disaster. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, see text box) reported in 2018 that more than 68.5 million were forcibly displaced worldwide due to armed conflict, widespread or indiscriminate violence, or human rights violations. Those displaced included 25.4 million refugees, 3.1 million asylum seekers, and 40 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The United States is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance, consistently providing nearly one-third of total global contributions (more than $7 billion in FY2016, $9.3 billion in FY2017, and $9.4 billion in FY2018). For FY2019, the House and Senate versions of proposed legislation for global humanitarian assistance are each above $9.1 billion. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1950, UNHCR is mandated to provide legal protection, implement long-term solutions, and coordinate emergency humanitarian relief for refugees and other displaced persons around the world. UNHCR works with governments to seek permanent solutions to refugee situations and prefers voluntary repatriation, whereby refugees return to their home countries. If repatriation is impossible, then UNHCR seeks either local integration or resettlement in a third country. UNHCR depends almost entirely on voluntary contributions to fund its operations. The United States is UNHCR's largest donor, with U.S. funding provided primarily through the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account in annual State/Foreign operations appropriations. Key Concepts and Defin tons Defining refugees and asylum seekers in an international context Under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugee Convention), a refugee is legally defined as a person fleeing his or her country because of persecution or owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside of the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country. A cornerstone of the Refugee Convention is the principle of non-refoulement, which means that a refugee should not be returned to a country where he or she faces serious threats to his or her life or freedom. An asylum-seeker is someone who has applied for refugee status but whose claim has not yet been definitively evaluated. Once an individual is considered a refugee, that individual automatically has certain legal rights, and states that are States Parties to the Refugee Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol are obligated to provide certain resources and protection. UNHCR is mandated to lead and coordinate international action for the protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems worldwide. Refugee Status Determination (RSD) is the legal or administrative process by which governments or UNHCR determine whether a person seeking international protection is considered a refugee under international, regional, or national law. Countries have the primary responsibility for determining the status of asylum-seekers, but UNHCR may do so when countries are unable or unwilling. During mass movements of refugees (usually as a result of conflicts or generalized violence as opposed to individual persecution), individual asylum interviews cannot be conducted for everyone who has crossed the border. In such cases, it is generally evident why people have fled. As a result, with the agreement of the host country, these groups are often declared prima facie refugees. Refugee resettlement Resettlement is the transfer of refugees from a country where they have received temporary asylum to another country that has agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them permanent settlement with legal and physical protection, including access to civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights similar to those enjoyed by nationals. It generally leads to permanent resident status or even citizenship in the resettlement country. There may be many reasons for resettlement. In most cases, there is no prospect for repatriation or local integration, and the situation in the host country may create particular protection concerns for the individual. The refugee resettlement process typically involves UNHCR and the government of the resettlement country: 1. UNHCR registration (often includes taking biometrics); 2. UNHCR Refugee Status Determination (RSD); 3. UNHCR identification of a need for resettlement; 4. resettlement country RSD and admissibility procedures;

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