briefing on afghan refugees
TRANSCRIPT
Briefing on Afghan Refugees
September 9, 2021
Sarah Peterson
Washington State Refugee Coordinator
Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
Agenda
1. Overview of resettlement process
2. Health services
3. Resettlement agencies and community partners
4. Federal updates
5. Gaps in needs and how Washingtonians can help
6. Q&A
Refugee Health and Wellness
Employment and Training
Immigration Assistance and Naturalization
Services
Whole Family Programs
Welcoming refugees is a collective effort.
4
2472 2630
32972933
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352
390291
6101011
752
619
661
604
2862 2921
3907 3944
22912557
1772
956
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
FFY 2014 FFY 2015 FFY 2016 FFY 2017 FFY 2018 FFY 2019 FFY 2020 FFY 2021
Refugees
SIV
Washington State Refugee and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) ArrivalsFederal Fiscal Year 2014 to 2021 (Oct. 1, 2020 – Aug. 31, 2021)
Source: State Post-Arrival Demographics Report, Dept. of State, Bureau of Populations, Refugees, and Migration, Refugee Processing Center, Washington.
323 people arrived in Aug. 2021, including 293 Afghans
Immigration Status Description Projection
Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) Available to Afghans who worked for the US government or government contractors for at least a year
7,000 arrived, 20,000 projected
Refugees (P1-P2) Must be processed outside of Afghanistan in a second country. This includes those who worked for the US government or government contractors for less than a year, or who worked for US-funded programs or projects and meet the credible fear criteria
Unknown
Will arrive after processing overseas
SQ/SI Parolee Arriving with SIV application pending Unknown at this time
Humanitarian Parolee Arriving without SIV application pending, likely eligible to apply for asylum
50,000 target for resettlement services
Afghan Arrivals
Washington State Department of Health | 6
Evacuation Process Overview
Application for Special Immigrant
Visa
Security checks
If approved Medical screening
Travel to United States
ResettlementLegal permanent residency
(green card)
Application for Special Immigrant
Visa
Security checks
If approved Processing at Ft. Lee
Evacuation from
Afghanistan to United
States
ResettlementImmigration visa processing and application for
legal permanent residency (green
card)
Security checks while
in partner country
If approved Processing at U.S. military
base
Evacuation from
Afghanistan to partner
country
ResettlementAdditional security &
immigration visa
processing
Travel to United States
Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)
Special Immigrant
Parolee (SI / SQ)
Humanitarian Parolee
Military Bases
• Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
• Fort Pickett, VA• Fort Lee, VA• Holloman Air Force
Base, NM• Fort McCoy, WI• Fort Bliss, TX• Joint Base McGuire-
Dix-Lakehurst, NJ• Camp Atterbury, IN
County of Resettlement
Refugee Resettlement Agency
Benton-Franklin World Relief - Richland
Clark County LCSNW (LIRS)
Puget Sound Region- King- Pierce- Snohomish
Diocese of Olympia (EMM) IRCJFS (HIAS) LCSNW (LIRS)World Relief – Seattle
Spokane County World Relief – Spokane
Refugee Resettlement Agencies in Washington
Immediate Resettlement Services
Afghan SIVs, Refugees, SQ/SI Parolees:
Reception and Placement Program (R&P)
30 to 90-day period
Per capita grant of $1,225 for direct assistance; $1,050 for administrative costs
Core Services: • Airport Reception• Safe and appropriate housing• Pocket money for each adult• Appropriate and adequate food supplies• Seasonal clothing• Material needs and household goods• Assistance with enrollment in school• Cultural orientation• Assistance with accessing legal services
Afghan Parolees: Afghan Parolee Assistance Program (APA)
30-day period, possible extension to 90-days
Per capita grant of $1,225 for direct assistance; $1,050 for administrative costs
Core Services: • Airport Reception• Safe and appropriate housing• Pocket money for each adult• Appropriate and adequate food supplies• Seasonal clothing• Material needs and household goods• Assistance with enrollment in school• Cultural orientation• Assistance with accessing legal services
Public Programs ProgramAfghan SIV, Refugee or
Afghan SI/SQ ParoleesAfghan Humanitarian Parolees
Public Assistance Programs
(Cash and Food Assistance)
Eligible for:
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(federally-funded cash assistance) (for
households with minor children)
• SNAP Food Assistance
• Refugee Cash Assistance (for individuals
and couples without minor children)
• Federally-funded Women, Infants, and
Children’s Program
Eligible for:
• State Family Assistance (for
households with minor children)
• Food Assistance Program (for all)
• Federally-funded Women, Infants,
and Children’s Program
Ineligible for:
• Refugee Cash Assistance (for
individuals and couples without
minor children)
Apple Health (Medicaid) Eligible
Eligible for:
• Apple Health (for children <19 years
and pregnant women)
• Alien Emergency Medical
Ineligible:
• Adults 19 years & older
Eligibility for Public Programs
Public Law 104-193, “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act 1996” 110 Stat 2105, Section 402, “Limited Eligibility of Qualified Aliens for Certain Federal Programs.”
Programs and Services Administered by
DSHS Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance
ProgramAfghan SIV, Refugee or
Afghan SI/SQ ParoleesAfghan Humanitarian Parolees
Refugee Health Screening
Refugee Health PromotionEligible Ineligible
LEP Pathway Employment and ESL Eligible Eligible
PRIME – Case management,
immigration assistance, and sufficiency
program
Eligible Ineligible
Refugee School Impact, Refugee Youth
Mentoring & Unaccompanied Refugee
Minor
Eligible Ineligible
Refugee Elders Eligible Ineligible
Emergency Refugee Support Services,
including housing and utility assistanceEligible Ineligible
Technology Access and Digital Inclusion Eligible Ineligible
Thank you!
Washington Department of Health
Contact Information:
Governor’s Office • Jim Baumgart [email protected]• RaShelle Davis [email protected]• Alejandro Sanchez [email protected]• Morgan Wilson [email protected]
DSHS Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance• Sarah Peterson [email protected]
Washington Department of Health• Jasmine Matheson [email protected]
Jewish Family Services • Cordelia Revels [email protected]
World Relief • Chitra Hanstad [email protected]
Muslim Association of Puget Sound• Aneelah Afzali [email protected]
Thank you!