ICMCEUROPE WelcometoEurope.pdf (5.89 MB)

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The United States has the largest resettlement quota worldwide, but this
quota has not been filled because of security clearances that often block
resettlement. What can be done to solve this situation?
USCCB has always asserted that refugee protection and good citizenship
are compatible. In 2011, domestic security concerns led the US government
to institute enhanced security clearances for most refugee populations
referred to the USRAP. These clearances depended on multiple federal
agencies for completion, and backlogs therefore ensued immediately.
Additionally, expiration dates on most types of clearances meant that
many refugees found themselves caught in a system that simply looped
back onto itself without any hope of resolution. There was a subsequently
enormously negative impact on resettlement admission numbers for a
period of 2 years.
The role of NGO advocacy in assisting refugees languishing in the US security
queue was vital. NGO implementing partners worked with government
organisations to identify delays and blockages in security clearances that
added many months to refugees’ waiting periods, and undertook congressional
advocacy on the issue. There has been some resolution for security
clearances for specific populations, while for others they remain a significant
barrier to protection and durable solutions. USCCB and our many
NGO partners remain committed to giving voice to those still affected,
and believe that common sense solutions exist that can honour our commitment
to national security whilst still offering protection to refugees.
Chapter II – Global Resettlement
What are the national fora for multi-stakeholder cooperation and partnerships
within the US programme? How do they work?
USCCB participates in several fora for multi-stakeholder input for the
USRAP. Primarily, USCCB partners with other resettlement agencies
through Refugee Council USA, which is a multi-tiered membership organisation
working to promote and advocate for refugee issues both domestically
and internationally. Within the RCUSA structure there are 3 Standing
Committees - Resettlement, Advocacy and Protection. Via the Resettlement
Committee, and with our partner domestic resettlement agencies, we raise
concerns and suggest policy changes. We believe that collaboration has
strengthened our ability to work with US government agencies and build