Refugees

Provisions provide refugee status for Iraqis associated with the United States who are under threat of persecution

December 7, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Gordon Smith, Carl Levin, and Sam Brownback released the following statements on the signing of the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report which contains provisions that would provide refugee status for Iraqis associated with the United States who are under threat of persecution.    » read more »

Testimony of Bill Frelick before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus

"Thank you, Chairman Lantos, for inviting Human Rights Watch to address the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on the subject of Iraqi refugees.    » read more »

08 November 2007 -- Rising violence in and around Somalia’s capital Mogadishu has forced thousands to flee the city for makeshift accommodations and camps along roads and towns outside the capital. Somali-born professor of geography at the University of Minnesota, Abdi Samatar, says the disruption and displacement of thousands of people can be attributed to a complex mixture of forces.    » read more »

05 November 2007 -- Around a million people have now fled their homes in the flooded state of Tabasco in southern Mexico and more rain is expected in the already saturated area. Eight people have died in the disaster and authorities are struggling to assist victims in shelters as well as those who remain stranded. Meanwhile, Mexican authorities say a landslide triggered by flooding in the southern state of Chiapas has buried dozens of homes in San Juan Grijalva. At least 15 people are feared missing.    » read more »

10 October 2007 -- Burkina Faso is among the many African countries that have been affected by heavy rains and floods over the past few months. Reports say more than 40 people have been killed and nearly 100,000 displaced.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is one of the humanitarian agencies trying to help. Noora Kero has been touring the areas affected by floods.    » read more »

01 October 2007 -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, is calling for new strategies and greater international commitment to deal with increasing numbers of people fleeing their homes. At the start of the UNHCR's annual refugee conference, Guterres told delegates protection and assistance must be given to people whether they are fleeing from persecution or from poverty.    » read more »

Critical Legislation Pending in the Senate Would Expedite Visa Applications for Iraqis

NEW YORK – In the next week, the Senate will vote on the IAVA-endorsed “Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act” or 2872. This amendment to the Defense Authorization bill expedites visa processing for Iraqi translators and other Iraqis who risk their lives to work with U.S. forces.Many IAVA member veterans feel a deep personal connection to their translators and have worked tirelessly to help bring them to safety in the United States.    » read more »

(As Prepared for Delivery)

September 28, 2007 -- "The late Arthur Helton, perhaps our country’s greatest advocate for the rights of refugees wrote, “Refugees matter…for a wide variety of reasons…Refugees are a product of humanity’s worst instincts – the willingness of some persons to oppress others – as well as some of its best instincts – the willingness of many to assist and protect the helpless…”.

A year later after he wrote those words, Arthur Helton was killed in Baghdad in 2003 when a bomb destroyed the UN headquarters in Iraq.    » read more »

September 28, 2007 -- WASHINGTON --- The Senate last night approved bipartisan legislation to help govern U.S. response to the Iraqi refugee crisis, which has displaced millions of Iraqis inside of Iraq and in neighboring countries. The bill, offered by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) along with Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), would establish a refugee processing program for Iraqis associated with the U.S. government and religious minorities, create a special immigrant status for Iraqis who have worked for the U.S.    » read more »

September 27, 2007 -- Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), the world's leading telecommunications supplier, today announced it would partner with the GSMA Development Fund, MTN Uganda, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide connectivity to refugee camps in Adjumani, northern Uganda. The initiative will address the urgent need for access to affordable communication for refugees.    » read more »

September 25, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan group of senators is calling for the protection of Hmong refugees in Thailand. In a letter sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today, Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) expressed concern for the 156 Hmong refugees being held at the Nong Khai detention center in Thailand. The senators want the State Department to continue seeking protection and assistance for the detainees in Nong Khai.

September 25, 2007    » read more »

September 19, 2007 -- "I am pleased to announce my selection of Lori Scialabba as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security for Iraqi Refugee Affairs. Lori brings more than 20 years of experience in immigration law and services to this new capacity, most recently as Associate Director of Refugee, Asylum and International Operations at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.    » read more »

Bill to provide refugee status for Iraqis associated with the United States who are under threat of persecution

September 18, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Gordon Smith, Sam Brownback, and Joe Lieberman were joined by Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, David Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union, and Sgt. Joe Seemiller, to urge Senate action on an amendment to assist Iraqi refugees.    » read more »

18 September 2007 -- The International Organization for Migration says there are now 2.25 million internally displaced people in Iraq.

A statement from the Geneva-based organization Tuesday says the number of displaced almost doubled after the bombing of the Shia Muslim al-Askari shrine in Samara in February of 2006.

The agency says the majority of displaced are renting substandard shelters or are staying with family and friends. In both cases, they are straining local resources.    » read more »

BRUSSELS, September 17, 2007 —There are an estimated 191 million international migrants in the world, the majority of whom live in developed countries. And, there is growing evidence that these communities contribute to the development process of home countries through a variety of channels, be it through remittances, investments, entrepreneurial activities, or transfer of knowledge.    » read more »