Information about Immigrants & Refugees
Why do foreign individuals move?
A migrant described as an individual who resides in another country than their national origin, for various reasons such as pursuit of an improved life or happiness.
The next large umbrella is Internally Displaced People (IDPs). These individuals are forcibly relocated to another region of their home country due to natural disasters, famine, war, or persecution. There are currently an estimated 71.1 million IDPs worldwide, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. This number has more than doubled in a decade.
Refugees add another 31.64 million displaced persons in 2023 according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Their designated status is given based on a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group (i.e. LGBTQIA+). Refugees flee, crossing borders into neighboring countries and cannot return home, taking refuge in an urban setting or refugee camp within the host country. Safety, acceptance, and suitable conditions remain concerns. Nonetheless, less than one percent (1%) of the world's population of refugees has been resettled to a third country.
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How does the refugee resettlement process work?
Due to the high number of refugees, other countries throughout the developed world share responsibility to settle the most vulnerable refugees and grant them permanent residence. Refugees are the most vetted population of foreign-born persons entering a country. Extensive medical examinations, security background checks, and overseas cultural orientation must align in the extensive process. For travel, a promissory note is signed by refugees 18 years and older to repay the International Organization of Migration. Refugees begin these interest-free loan payments in amounts dependent on gained employment six months after arrival.
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As a resettlement country, each year the President of the United States determines a maximum ceiling of arrivals for refugee and special immigrant status from regional allocations. This determination has been as low as 18,000 and as high as 231,700 since the Refugee Act of 1980. The Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement are involved in admittance of refugees. There are 10 national voluntary agencies (volags) that then aid the refugees and immigrants to receive services in communities across the nation.
Does Arizona participate in resettlement?
Arizona has settled over 108,000 refugees since 1980 and has been consistently in the top five reception states. Phoenix has four of the 10 volags represented: International Rescue Committee (IRC), Arizona Immigrant Refugee Services (AIRS, part of the Ethiopian Community Development Council), Catholic Charities (CC, part of United Conference of Catholic Bishops), and Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW, part of Lutheran Immigrant Refugee Service). These Resettlement Agencies are monitored by the state-level Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) and assists qualified clients to receive state benefits. The caseworkers and job developers also help refugee clients and other eligible beneficiaries reach self-sufficiency in employment, use of public transportation, school enrollment, health literacy, public safety, and more.
Being a border-state, asylum-seekers also enter into Arizona. These asylum-seekers travel by their own financial means and lean on non-profits and sponsors to assist when crossing an international border. Asylum-seekers flee due to similar fears of persecution as refugees, but their status has not yet been determined. A determination of their claims is by affirmed by defensive asylum legal proceedings, therefore, they have constraints on eligibility and receive short-term services only. In Phoenix this is through the IRC Welcome Center and other faith-based community network options.
Are immigrants and refugees welcome in Phoenix?
Phoenix is happy to welcome immigrants and refugees into our community. Regardless of status, foreign-born populations contribute to the community in social, cultural, and economic ways. We hope that those who call Phoenix their new home become integrated long-term and can access city services to succeed. However, immigrants and refugees are not required to stay in their original destination city if there are family, friends, or jobs elsewhere. They are encouraged to communicate with the resettlement agency reception staff, caseworkers, or community members assisting them regarding long-term goals, including any relocation plans.
“Phoenix is the fastest growing city in the United States, and refugees have been integral to us becoming a stronger, more diverse community. I'm proud that we are a city known for our warm welcome, and we will continue to work diligently with local and state partners to provide refugees the support they need to settle into their lives and find success in our community," said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.
