Problems

Obstacles to Refugee Status

In recent years, the legal hurdles facing refugees seeking asylum have increased dramatically, while federal assistance for asylum seekers has been curtailed or eliminated. In 1994, more than 123,884iup claims for asylum were filed. In 2004, there were 27,704 cases – a decrease of 78%. In the wake of juju mthe attacks of September 11, the rate at which asylum cases are granted also fell precipitously. While about 43% of asylum cases were granted in 2001, only about 29% of asylum cases were granted in 2003. Of the 15.2 million persons who became refugees in 2009, the United States admitted 79,000. By law, the US accepts only a limited number of refugees each year, with each region of the world being allocated a fixed number of refugees. 

Worldwide:

  • 3 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide as of the end of 2009 (2009 Global Trends at 1)
  • 2 million refugees worldwide as of the end of 2009 (2009 Global Trends at 1)
  • 983,000 asylum-seekers worldwide as of the end of 2009 (2009 Global Trends at 1)
  • 1 million internally displaced persons as of the end of 2009 (2009 Global Trends at 1)

US General Statistics: 

  • By the end of 2009 the US was host to 275,500 refugees (2009 Global Trends at 7)
  • In 2009 the US admitted 79,900 refugees (2009 Global Trends at 12)
  • In 2009 the US received 47,900 asylum applications (2009 Global Trends at 17)
  • In 2007 10,000 asylum seekers were detained in the US (Human Rights First at 1)
  • Parole rates for asylum seekers dropped from 41.3 % in 2004 to 4.2 % in 2007 (Human Rights First at 1)
  • The U.S. accepts a limited number of refugees each year, the number being set by the President in consultation with Congress. In Fiscal Year 2010, 80,000 refugeess from among five regions of the world will be permitted to come to the U.S. The regions and the numbers of admissions are: Africa, 15,500; Europe and Central Asia, 2,500; East Asia, 17,000; Near East/South Asia, 35,000; Latin America and the Caribbean, 5,000.

Tibet/China Statistics:

  • In 2009 64,238 persons whose country of birth is the People’s Republic of China received legal permanent residence status in the US (Dept. Homeland Security 2009 Yearbook at 12)
  • Of these 64,238, 18, 486 were granted permanent residence status in the US as refugees and asylees (Dept Homeland Security 2009 Yearbook at 27)
  • In 2009 28% of persons granted asylum in the US were Chinese nationals (Dept Homeland Security Annual Flow Report at 5)
  • In 2009 20,080 Tibetans became refugees (2009 Global Trends at 29).

__________________________________________________________________________________

Incarceration

Immigrants from countries other than Mexico who arrive in the US seeking refuge are often incarcerated as soon as they touch U.S. soil (NBC, June 20, 2005).  Legitimate asylum seekers are routinely strip-searched, shackled, and often subjected to deportation before they get a chance to plead their case before an immigration judge. In a report issued in February, 2007, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan federal commission, pointed out that many refugees are kept in the dark about their rights and responsibilities as asylum seekers. The commission found, for example, that immigration agents were not advising immigrants that they could ask to have their cases reviewed by a judge (New York Times, Feb 8, 2007). 

Starting from Scratch

Asylum seekers who do manage to have their cases heard by a judge, or otherwise avoid incarceration, still face problems obtaining work permits, housing, medical aid, and temporary public assistance.

Plight of the Refugee

  • Precipitous drop in number of refugees granted asylum
  • Drying up of federal assistance
  • Incarceration and deportation without judicial review common
  • Ignorance of rights and responsibilities
  • Bewildering system for obtaining work permits, housing, medical aid

Who counts as a refugee?

  • Although thousands of people attempt to migrate to the US every year in the hope of escaping poverty and miserable living conditions, very few are actual refugees.
  • The LAP assists only those immigrants who face government persecution or violent reprisals upon deportation back to their country of origin. Careful screening of applicants is one reason for our founders’ high rate of success in asylum cases.