index Category Refugee Protection

Reforms to the U.S. Asylum and Refugee Systems

The United States has a long history of providing refuge to victims of religious, political, ethnic, and other forms of persecution. This tradition reflects a core component of this country’s identity as a nation committed to freedom and respect for human dignity. When Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980, the United States enshrined into domestic law its commitment to protect the persecuted, creating the legal status of asylum and a formal framework for resettling refugees from around the world. Over the years, however, the United States has faltered in its commitment to those who seek protection.

In March 2010, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, Human Rights First released a series of key policy reform recommendations designed to renew America’s commitment to the protection of refugees.

Also in March 2010, the Refugee Protection Act of 2010 (S. 3113) was introduced in the Senate. The bill would repair many of the most severe problems in the U.S. asylum and refugee systems and strengthen the U.S. commitment to providing refuge to victims of religious, political, ethnic and other forms of persecution. Human Rights First welcomed the introduction of S. 3113 and submitted written testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the bill.

Additional support for the Refugee Protection Act of 2010:

  • 89 faith-based, human rights, legal services and refugee assistance organizations, including Human Rights First, and 99 individual asylum law practitioners, pro bono attorneys, law professors and other experts committed to the protection of refugees and asylum seekers sent a letter of thanks to Sen. Leahy (D-VT), who introduced S. 3113 (5/18/10)
  • Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees sent a letter of support to Sen. Leahy (5/17/10)
  • Church World Service sent a letter to Congress (5/19/10)
  • U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants released a statement (3/15/10)

 

Statements of support at the May 19 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing:

 

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Refugee Protection Act

Human Rights First commends the Senate Judiciary Committee for holding a hearing on May 19, 2010, to shine a light on the need to improve the U.S. asylum and refugee resettlement systems. Human Rights First is joined by 88 faith-based, human rights and other groups, as well as 99 experts and others, in supporting the Refugee Protection Act of 2010 (S. 3113).

Read our press release on the May 19 hearing.
Read Human Rights First’s written testimony submitted for the record
Read written testimony from 10 other NGOs submitted for the record
Read the letter submitted by Human Rights First and 88 other groups for the hearing.
Read our two-pager on the Refugee Protection Act, and the bill itself.
Urge your Senators to co-sponsor the Refugee Protection Act

USCIS Ombudsman Releases Recommendations to Improve Refugee Application Adjudication

On April 14, 2010, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman formally released recommendations that would increase the transparency and efficiency of the refugee application adjudication process abroad. Human Rights First supports the Ombudsman’s recommendations, which include basic steps such as making public the criteria for expediting the application of an at-risk refugee and providing sufficient information about reasons for denial so that a refugee applicant can make a meaningful appeal if he or she desires. The Director of USCIS has 90 days to respond to the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

Read the Ombudsman’s recommendations
Read HRF’s letter to the National Security Council detailing recommendations for improvements to the refugee adjudication process (12/23/09)

Human Rights First Praises Senators for Introducing Bill Strengthening U.S. Commitment to Refugees

Thirty years after the signing of the landmark Refugee Act of 1980, Senators introduced the Refugee Protection Act of 2010 (S. 3113), legislation repairing many of the most severe problems in the U.S. refugee and asylum systems. The introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2010 coincides with the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, the bipartisan bill that affirmed the U.S. commitment to providing refuge to victims of religious, political, ethnic and other forms of persecution.

Read Human Rights First’s press release.
Urge your Senators to co-sponsor the Refugee Protection Act
Watch our 30th Anniversary video
View a flow chart of How Refugees Get to the U.S.
Read HRF’s two-pager on the bill

Renewing U.S. Commitment to Refugee Protection: The 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act

Human Rights First gathered policymakers and experts in refugee and asylum law on March 16, 2010 for a full-day symposium at Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C.

The symposium highlighted the United States’ achievements since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980, honored the contributions refugees and their children have made to the diverse fabric of American society, and evaluated the ways in which policymakers can work together to overcome current challenges in the U.S. refugee resettlement and asylum systems.

Read a summary about the symposium.
See the speakers and program (PDF).
Read the press release and recommendations (PDF).
Watch our video.
27 refugees sworn in as US citizens on the 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act
Take action.

Human Rights First and Other NGOs Write DHS Secretary Napolitano and Attorney General Holder, Urge Reforms

On July 8, 2009, Human Rights First and other key national NGOs, plus the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, made recommendations for reform of the asylum system in separate letters to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder.