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The Charlotte Jewish News - September 2009 - Page 15 Communitv Mews The Refugee’s Road to Asylum By Karen Brodsky One of the questions we at HIAS NC often hear is, “How do the refugees get to Charlotte?” It is a good ques tion and one that is comphcat- ed to answer. The process is anxiety-producing for the refugee families and takes them through a maze of gov ernment and non-govemment agencies. To begin, a refugee is a per son who has been forced to flee his or her homeland due to persecution or fear of perse cution, war, or civil conflict. An individual’s or group’s race, religion, ethnicity, or nation ality might face suppression or attack, forcing entire communities to evacuate a country, without time to prepare. Currently, HIAS NC is settling ethnic minorities from Burma, including Chin and Karen; Montagnards from the Central Highlands of Vietnam; Bhutanese from Nepal; Somalis; Iraqis; and religious minorities from Iran, including Baha’is, Jews, Zoroastrians and Christians. All are oppressed in their countries and fear for their lives. Often, refugees flee into neigh boring countries, where they have no legal status and are forced to remain in refugee camps or like the Chin from Burma, go to Malaysia or Somalis who go to Kenya. The fortunate ones take underpaid, and un-regulated jobs in urban settings; many can’t obtain any work. Some refugees have lived in camps for more than 20 years. According to the HIAS website, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), whose main purpose is to protect the rights and well being of refugees, works to ensure that all refugees have the opportu nity to find a safe haven in anoth er country with the option to return home voluntarily, resettle locally, or resettle in a third coun try. Resettlement is seen as the best option for individuals or groups who would face continued persecution in their home coun tries and cannot permanently live Artwork: ZVI MALNOVITZER (b. Israel 1945), "Refugees with Little Girl in Red, ” 2007. Courtesy of Mayanot Gallery, Jerusalem, www.mayanotgallery.com. in the country to which they fled. Fourteen countries currently resettle refugees. The U.S. reset tles more than all the other coun tries combined. The decision of how many refugees the U.S. will accept is made annually by the President, working in concert with the Department of State. Through a complicated process involving a surfeit of government and non-government agencies, refugees apply for formal refugee status. In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security carefully screens all applicants. Once approved, the applicant has a medical exam and attends cultur al orientation classes. HIAS Inc. is one of nine voluntary agencies and one governmental (VOLAGS) that make up the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. HIAS asks for an assurance from one of its many affiliate offices across the U.S. that it will resettle the refugee according to Department of State guidelines. The International Organization for Migration (lOM) makes trans portation arrangements, and the costs are borne in the form of a loan the refugee must begin repay ing at six months in the U.S. The payments on the no-interest loan are very small but help refugees establish a credit history. Refugee cases are allocated between the VOLAGS based upon a preset quota system and factors including family and community ties, availability of medical/mental health services, labor markets and cost of living. Once in the U.S., refugees are eligible for benefits funded by the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Traditionally Charlotte has been an excellent place to resettle refugees owing to the availability of relative ly low-cost housing and abundant jobs. Of course, this has changed with the downturn of the economy. It is taking longer to find refugees employment, much like the gener al population. Government funds are limited and they run out quick ly. HIAS NC relies on donations to fill in the gaps, the generosity of those who supply furniture and housewares, and the time commit ment from volunteers. To donate or volunteer, contact Ellen Dubin at 704-535-8803. ^ Information for this article comes from HIAS.org, website of HIAS Inc., the oldest resettlement agency in the US., and from The Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook, in the chapter, “The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program: Facts and Fiction, Setting the Record Straight on a Widely Misunderstood Humanitarian Migration Program, ” by Elissa Mittman of the International Rescue Committee, Mark Hetfield of HIAS Inc., and Amy Bliss Tenney, of World Relief, published by the American Immigration Lawyers Assn., 2009-10 edition. Josh Rubin’s Plumbing, LLC LICENSED - BONDED - INSURED COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Layouts for slabs - Rough-in and Finish Water Heater Repairs and Replacement Kitchen/Bath Remodeling Toilets, Tubs, Faucets, Sink, and Disposal Repairs/Replacement 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE ~ NC State Lie. #29197 SC State Lie. #M110508 704-517-4918 Save twice with Home & Auto Discounts. Call me to sse how much you could save when you insure your home and car with Allstate 70A-573- 3 Mike Littauer 704-573-1113 Charlotte - Matthews - Union County m 1 itt a u er@a Usta!e.cQ m /lllstate Call fora free quote budject to availability and qualilications. me Luppsd liands logo is a regisiersd service marK ol Aiislate InsurancQ Company Allstate Indetnnrty Company, NorthbroDk, IL © 2007 Allslane Insurance Company Debra van Glish, Tonya Meltsner, Harriet Perlin at Debra’s Butterfly Birthday party. If interested in having a birthday party to help the Butterfly Project reach the goal of 2000 butterflies please call Jodi Valenstein at 704-944-6730. Please Join us Thursday, September 17th in welcoming Israeii Autiior Dan Arieiy to City Art Works. Dr. Arieiy will be signing copies of his NY Times bestselling book ^"Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions^* which presents humorous and profound insights into human behavior. Dr. Arieiy is the Jciines B. Duke Professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke Uiiiversit}’. His work has been featured in the New York Times, The Wail Street Joitruat, The Washiiigioii Post, The New Yorker and on CNN and NPR. We look forward to seeing you from 6:30pm until 9:00pm September 17th, 2009 cocklciils and hors d'oeuvres will be served Copies of the book will be available at City Art Works prior to and during the event. Any tiiiestions contact Susan or Alan at 704.527.1300 City* Art* Works 1630 East Woodlawn Rd„ Suite 267 • Charlotte, NC 28209 • 704.527.1300 Parktowne Village at Park Road & Woodlawn Road
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