How does the refugee resettlement program work?
Each year, the US President establishes the proposed ceilings for refugee admissions for the fiscal year. This number represents the total number of refugees to be admitted for that year. For FY 2004, the refugee admissions ceiling was 70,000.Refugees selected for resettlement must meet a set of criteria devised by the United States Government. Most refugees selected for resettlement are referred to the US Government by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Others, however, are identified by the US Government as belonging to a group of special concern based on individual circumstances, or are identified as being close family members (spouses, unmarried children, and parents) of individuals already residing permanently in the US. All refugees must meet the definition of a refugee by proving that he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution.Once identified as being eligible for permanent resettlement, refugees must undergo thorough medical and security screening before t
