3180 Refugee Resettlement Services

Any person who is outside his or her country of nationality and who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution. Persecution may be based on the alien’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The term refugee also includes individuals admitted as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality act, granted asylum under section 212(d)(5) of the Act; Cuban and Haitian entrants, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants (SIVs); certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted as immigrants pursuant to section 584 of the Foreign Operation Export Financing and related programs appropriation Act of 1988 are also eligible to receive Office of the Refugee Resettlement Assistance and services; and Victims of Human Trafficking certified by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

National voluntary agencies (or their local affiliates or subcontractors) that have entered into a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with the United States Department of State or other appropriate federal agency to provide for the reception and initial placement of refugees in the United States.

The entity which advises the Department on current refugee needs within the state and assists the Department in coordinating public and private resources for refugee resettlement. The coalition is composed of refugees, representatives from local governments, local resettlement agencies, service providers, and other interested private organizations and individuals.