Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policy (Congressional Research Service)

Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policy

Congressional Research Service Report for Congress

...A refugee is a person fleeing his or her country because of persecution or a
well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership
in a particular social group, or political opinion. Typically, the annual number of
refugees admitted into the United States and the allocation of these numbers by region
are set by the President after consultation with Congress by the start of each fiscal
year. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, however, the usual process
was not followed for FY2002. President Bush did not issue the Presidential
Determination setting the FY2002 refugee numbers and allocations until November
21, 2001. In the absence of that Presidential Determination, no refugees could be
admitted into the country after October 1, 2001. In addition, following a post-
September 11 assessment of refugee-related security procedures, enhanced security
procedures are now in place. Refugee admissions into the United States resumed the
week of December 10, 2001....

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