www.crisohio.org

CRIS: In the Beginning…

In 1995 CRIS was

founded as an

outreach of the

Buddhamamaka

Society, refugees

from Laos

CRIS Today 1925 E. Dublin Granville Rd.

Over 50 employees

Staff from 15 countries

Many languages represented

Importance of Volunteers

CRIS Program Services

Resettlement

Employment/English Language

Immigration Legal Services

Community Connectors

Wellness

Victims of Crime

Help Me Grow/Nurturing Parenting

Senior Refugee Services

Legal definition of “Refugee”

Any person who is outside his or her country

of nationality who is unable or unwilling to

return to that country because of persecution

or a well-founded fear of persecution.

Persecution or the fear thereof may be based

on the alien’s race, religion, nationality,

membership in a particular social group, or

political opinion.

Asylees

The Refugee Process

1. First preference: repatriation – going home

2. Second preference: integration into host country

3. Third preference: resettlement to a third country

Refugees flee and seek durable

solutions from and protection by

the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees

Refugees from Bhutan

Most of the Nepali

ethnic minority living in

Southern Bhutan were

forced to leave in the

early 90’s

They fled to Nepal

where they lived in

refugee camps since

The U.S. Refugee Program

Less than 1% come to the U.S.

21.3 million refugees world wide (of 65.3 million forcibly displaced)

Presidential Determination FY2016 Admission of up to 85,000 refugees

Africa: 25,000

East Asia: 13,000

Europe and Central Asia: 4,000

Latin America/Caribbean: 3,000

Near East/South Asia: 34,000

Unallocated reserve: 6,000

United States Refugee Program

National Voluntary Agencies affiliated with

CRIS:

CRIS Refugee Arrivals FY2016 = 833

CRIS Refugee Arrivals FY2017

FY2017 Refugees Anticipated = 958

The Executive Orders

The First One: Issued January 27, 2017

120 day suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)

– Indefinite suspension of Syrians under the program

Reduction of FY2017 refugees from 110,000 to 50,000 (55% reduction)

90 day suspension of entry into the United States of foreign nationals

– Excludes entry of foreign national traveling on certain types of visas

– Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen

Various studies to be executed by the Secretary to State, Secretary of

Homeland Security, and Director of National Intelligence

2.0: Issued March 6, 2017, repeals E.O. 1.0, removes Iraqis, other minor

changes

U.S. Supreme Court Decision

Ban cannot be enforced against foreign

nationals who have a credible claim of a “bona

fide” relationship with a person or entity in the

United States

– Federal Judge in Hawaii said should exemption from

the ban should include grandparents/aunts/uncles

and resettlement agencies with an “assurance”

– Supreme Court agreed on expanded family definition

but stayed the issue of resettlement agencies as

entities until Court of Appeals rules

Impact of the Executive Orders

Resettlement Arrivals Drastically Decline

Proposed 55% reduction in refugees admitted in 2017 significantly reduces

ongoing revenue for resettlement agencies, and results in significantly uneven flow

– 11 arrivals in March, 12 arrivals in July, on-going uncertainty

World Relief Columbus, one of three resettlement organizations in Columbus closed its doors in July

Resettlement Support Centers lay off 600+

CRIS layoff of staff, cut hours and pay

Increased community interest in supporting refugee resettlement

Community Support

Why is Columbus a destination for so many refugees?

Primary Arrivals – US resettlement program;

cases pre-destined to join family members or

friends

Secondary Migrants – community, affordable

housing, employment, size, welcoming

reputation

Estimated numbers of refugee groups in Central Ohio

Somali 45,000

Ethiopian 30,000

Bhutanese-Nepali 20,000

Iraqi 3,000

Burmese 1,000

(Community estimates)

Other African Refugees

Eritreans

Sudanese

Ugandan

Congolese (emerging population)

Nakivale Refugee Camp, Uganda 24

Refugee numbers in Nakivale as of 9/1/2011

25

Burundi 5,356

Congolese 28,121

Eritrea 1,339

Ethiopia 352

Iran 1

Kenya 28

Liberia 3

Rwanda 9,138

Somalia 10,262

Sudan 128

Tanzania 1

Children caring for children 26

Making a New Home

Post-Arrival Activities

Airport

Housing

Social Security Number

Public Benefits ( + $1125 one-time grant)

Health Screening

Employment

English Classes

Orientation/Acculturation

Learning a new language

Learning a new culture

Finding a job

Employer Partners

Economic Contributions

Refugees Start Businesses

Reuniting Families

One Mother’s Story

Thank You!