What if?

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ref·u·gee | \ ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē  , ˈre-fyu̇-ˌjē\

One that flees, especially a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution.​

 

What is a refugee?

“A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.” ​

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The Need:

As of May 2023, there were 110 million people worldwide who had been forcibly displaced from their homes by persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. Those granted Refugee status by the United Nations make up 27.1 million; around half of those are children under the age of 18. Of that 27.1 million, less than 1% will ever be relocated to another country where they can seek asylum. They are well-vetted, legally authorized to work, and (by definition) in danger of severe persecution or death if they remain in their home countries, because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinions or membership in a particular social group. The numbers are staggering.

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Their Stories:

The stories are haunting and compel us to action.

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Sarabi, Mohammad and Nataliia (not their real names) are among the fortunate few who fled violence and persecution and found a safe place. In this case, they found it in Clemson, South Carolina, as part of a refugee community which now numbers around 100 individuals in 30 families. As refugees being assisted by Global Refuge and Refugee Hope Upstate, they’ve had their most basic needs met and continue to have the support of agency staff and of groups of volunteers (called Circles of Welcome) from over 25 church congregations and community groups who have given selflessly to their new friends.

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But it is not enough. Time has shown that meeting the basic needs is not sufficient to provide for a future that is truly bright and offers hope for the greatest success. The funding provided by the government for these families is minimal and the need to seek immediate employment in order to survive hampers a refugee’s ability to learn the culture and language they need to flourish. To give our friends the best hope for a brighter future, some long-term, big-dream structure needs to be put into place. Things like:

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• Access to transitional housing for new refugees as they first arrive, where they can learn the life skills they need in a safe setting that facilitates a short delay (3-6 months) in the need for immediate employment.

• Expanded access to consistent ESL instruction during those transitional months. Support from the local school districts and churches has been phenomenal, but necessary components like transportation and childcare need shoring up in order to be sustainable.

• Partnerships with local employers committed to helping refugees find jobs where they can succeed, even as they improve their language skills and job training to increase their success in the workforce. There are real heroes in our local industries, but we need more.

 

At first glance, these may seem like big problems. But the last 2+ years have proven that there are many whose hearts go out to those who are fleeing. Many whose talents and time have already made incredibly positive changes in the lives of those who have come into our lives and need a hand up as they strive to stand on their own. Already there are resources at hand that need only a little more connection to create a sustainable solution to obstacles that CAN be overcome.

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The Process of Resettlement:

The process of refugee resettlement to the U.S. is a lengthy and thorough process that takes several years and involves numerous U.S. governmental agencies.  Refugees do not choose the country in which they would like to live. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency identifies the most vulnerable refugees for resettlement and then makes recommendations to select countries.  Once a refugee is recommended to the U.S. for resettlement, the U.S. government conducts a thorough vetting of each applicant. This process includes: ​

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• Screening by eight federal agencies including the State Department, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI 

• Six security database checks and biometric security checks screened against U.S. federal databases 

• Medical screening 

• Three in-person interviews with Department of Homeland Security officers 

 

Only after this process is complete is the refugee placed in a local community. For more information on the refugee crisis check out the following resources (click on button below): 

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• Global Refuge

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 

• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

• World Relief