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REFUGEES continued from 32
Chaldeans have fled Iraq since 1988, dramatically
increasing during Saddam Hussein’s regime. The
estimated total ranges from 80,000 to 100,000
individuals. And there have been many more people
who have been silent in their departures. Most
have taken refuge in Syria and Jordan, as well as
Turkey, Lebanon and several European countries.
There are many Chaldeans applying for asylum
and refugee status. More than 1,200 cases have
been received in the first wave of the committee’s
efforts. One of the committee’s goals is to make the
immigration process for refugee families easier and
more effective. There are several steps in this
application process.
First, one must identify if the applicant is seeking
asylum or refugee status. Immigrants applying
for asylum file their application for refuge in the
country that they occupy. Therefore, they have
already settled in the country of refuge, but seek to
obtain legal residency in that country. Those applying
for refugee status are individuals who have fled
or escaped their country of origin for fear of persecution.
They are the applicants who wish to someday
settle in the U.S., but are still in transit.
Individuals seeking refugee status must select
one of three dimensions that apply to their situation.
The three dimensions, or criteria, include
Priority 1 (P-1), Priority 2 (P-2) and Priority 3 (P-
3). P-1 involves a referral in which an organization
prepares a case on behalf of the individual and
presents it to the State Department for referral and
approval. P-2 pertains to the humanitarian need of
individuals seeking admittance as a group. This
process requires political support. P-3 is an application
for family reunification, meaning that the
applicant is seeking to be reunited with family
members already settled in the U.S. Among the
1,200 applicants, 85 percent claim they have at
least one relative living in the U.S.
THE FIRST WAVE
The Committee on Immigration and Refugees has
been working diligently to assist their first wave of
applicants in obtaining official admittance to the
U.S. Kassab said the arrival process is starting to take
shape. “We do not have an exact timing as to when
the refugees will arrive, but the interview processes
are beginning,” Kassab said. Candidates must pass an
interview and meet United Nations guidelines for
refugee status before they will be able to settle in the
U.S. Eligible candidates will be able to settle six
months from the date of their interview. “We are
starting to see light at the end of the tunnel,” Kassab
said. “And we are continuing to see more light
with every step of the process.”
The committee’s efforts are indeed having an
effect on the immigration process. P-1 applications
had been severed for 3.5 years. However, due to the
persistence of the committee and the thorough
preparation of the cases presented to the Department
of Homeland Security, P-1 has been reactivated.
In the case of asylum status, most applicants
have been denied in the past for many reasons. The
committee persevered with the help of Senator
Carl Levin, who introduced a bill to reverse the
denials. Senate Bill S2611 has passed the first
round of votes and will appear in front of Congress.
There is much lobbying that needs to take place in
order to pass this bill into law, but it has successfully
made it through half of the process thus far.
There are an additional 800 cases waiting to be
processed for refugee status consideration. Those
applicants will be considered Wave 2.
Kassab remains enthusiastic about the future.
“Christians are the flowers of Iraq,” he said. “They
can truly grow and thrive here with the help of the
community.”
For more information on the Committee on Immigration
and Refugees, visit http://www.chaldeanfederation.org.
New forms are available, but only for those who have not
already applied.
YOU CAN HELP
On December 1, the CFA will host an event at
Shenandoah Country Club to celebrate its 25th
anniversary. The fundraising dinner will include
videos, photos and news from refugees and their
families. Tickets are $250. Visit
http://www.chaldeanfederation.org for details.
50 CHALDEAN NEWS OCTOBER 2006