Some time ago a reader sent this web page (American Immigration Center) describing eligibility and how one might apply for asylum in the US. Since we write about asylum almost every day, I’ll post this in our ‘where to find information’ category for future reference. However, be aware this is not an official government website (even if it looks like one at first glance). Here is the home page for the American Immigration Center.
I can’t figure out who this group is, but it appears to be set up to get more would-be immigrants information they need to get into the US (and it probably isn’t free to the hopeful immigrant wannabe!). It does, however, give us some useful information.
Here is how they open their asylum page:
Millions of people every year find themselves displaced due to one form of persecution or another. Groups of people have been subjected to terrible conditions for the entirety of history based upon their ethnicity, religion, beliefs or some other or much more arbitrary reason, but the fortunate thing is that there are countries that can provide much needed relief to these peoples. The United States is one of the foremost.
Adapting to life in the United States can be a challenge for some refugees. Here a Somali woman in Speedway, Indiana, is shown the proper operation of a hot and cold water faucet. (from the DOS press release)
This is a press release from the US State Department from a couple of days ago. There is nothing much here that we haven’t seen before, but it’s useful to review this information from time to time especially as we have new readers joining us every day.
Here are just a few of the facts the State Department wants you to know (emphasis added is mine):
Washington — The United States welcomed a record number of refugees in fiscal year 2013.
The 69,930 refugees who found safe haven this year in the United States represent the Obama administration’s commitment to creating a refugee admissions program that meets important security screening standards as well as growing humanitarian need. The number of admitted refugees also is closer to the authorized ceiling — 70,000 in 2013 — than in any year since 1980, according to figures provided by the U.S. Department of State.
[….]
The top five nationalities resettled to the United States in 2013 were Iraqi, Burmese, Bhutanese, Somali and Cuban. Upon their arrival in the United States, refugees have been resettled in 186 communities in 49 states. [Wyoming does not participate—ed] Through use of transit centers hosted by the governments of Romania and Slovakia, the United States was able to resettle Iraqi refugees trapped by the war in Syria as well as at-risk Afghan women who were formerly in Iran.
[….]
For fiscal year 2014, President Obama authorized the admission of another 70,000 refugees, representing some 60 nationalities from around the world. The United States expects strong arrivals from Iraq, Burma and Bhutan. Efforts are being made to increase the number of Congolese and Syrian refugees who wish to settle in the United States.
[….]
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates there are approximately 15.4 million refugees in the world. The UNHCR reports that less than 1 percent of all refugees are eventually resettled in third countries. Of these, the United States welcomes over half, more than all other resettlement countries combined.More than 3 million refugees have come to the United States in the last 35 years, according to the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. The United States is also the single-largest donor to international relief efforts for refugees.
For our complete fact sheet and one of the most highly sought after features at RRW, click here.
This is a very handy graphic published by the BBC (we like maps at RRW!). For new readers we have written extensively on the invasion of Europe by Middle Easterners and Africans for years, but this year has seen the greatest increase in the numbers trying to get to Italy as the number one destination. From there they hope to move on through Europe. For a chuckle, see yesterday’s poston cannibalism on the way to the land of free meals.
I see there is no major migration route to the Vatican in Rome, maybe we should spread a rumor that the Pope is “welcoming” the stranger!
Isn’t it great how the US and certain European countries destabilized Libya and made it the go-to place for illegal migrants wanting to get to Europe!
For fiscal year 2013 the Obama Administration wanted 70,000 refugees (the same number they are shooting for in 2014***) and came awfully close with 69,930. The contractors, who are used to coming in way under the goal, are probably jumping for joy since they are paid by the head to bring refugees to your towns and cities.
Iraqis top the list with 19,491 resettled!
Burma comes in at number two with 16,299.
Bhutan (Nepal): 9,134
Somalia: 7,608 (a very high number compared to recent years)
Of note: we admitted 164 Palestinians, a small number, but as you know Palestinians are not usually resettled around the world.
*** We are waiting anxiously for the report to Congress that accompanies the Presidential Determination. Let us know if you see it!
The photo is from a story I didn’t have time to post from The Republican in Springfield, Mass. It’s the first story I’ve seen in awhile where Iraqis complain about their lives here. For awhile, a few years ago, it seemed there were weekly reports of unhappy Iraqis. See our Iraqi refugee category (590 posts!), here, for more.
The Center for Immigration Studies has just released a new report. The press release accompanying the report begins with this (emphasis is mine):
WASHINGTON, DC (October 10, 2013) — The Center for Immigration estimates that if the Senate Gang of Eight Immigration bill (S.744) becomes law it will add more than 17 million new potential voting-age citizens by 2036. These new potential voters are in addition to the roughly 15 million that the current level of legal immigration will add by 2036.Combined, current immigration and S.744 would create more than 32 million potential voters by 2036.
To place these figures in perspective, the last four presidential elections were decided by 4.5 million votes on average. Even if only a modest share actually vote, the impact of these new votes on future elections will likely be substantial.
Dr. Steven Camarota, CIS Director of Research and author of the publication, comments, “Current immigration policy is adding millions of new voters each decade; the Gang of Eight bill will add millions more. This is one of the most important consequences of immigration. Will it result in voters who need or want more government services? [You betcha!—ed] Or, will it reshape American foreign policy? There has been almost no discussion of the impact on the electorate.”
Some time ago a reader sent this web page (American Immigration Center) describing eligibility and how one might apply for asylum in the US. Since we write about asylum almost every day, I’ll post this in our ‘where to find information’ category for future reference. However, be aware this is not an official government website (even if it looks like one at first glance). Here is the home page for the American Immigration Center.
The