1. Who is a refugee?
According to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, a refugee is someone who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
The difference between a refugee and an immigrant is that a refugee is someone who never “had it in their plan” to come to another country, but must because of circumstances outside of their control. An immigrant generally chooses, or plans to move to a new country, to pursue work, get married, go to school, etc.
Examples of refugee populations resettled in Lansing over the years include women oppressed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, Black Christians persecuted in the Sudan, and more recently, Burmese and Bhutanese targeted by their governments at home.
2. About how many refugees live in Lansing?
Between 400 and 700 refugees are resettled in the Lansing area each year. There are currently between 10,000 and 13,000 refugees living in mid-Michigan.
3. What countries are refugees in Lansing from?
The Lansing refugee community includes Afghans, Bosnians, Burmese, Bhutanese, Burundians, Congolese (DR and Brazzaville), Croats, Cubans, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Hmong, Iranians, Iraqis, Kurds, Liberians, Meskhetian Turks, Somali, Bantu Somali, Sudanese, and Vietnamese, along with small numbers from many other countries around the world.
4. How do refugees reach Lansing?
For a variety of reasons, neighboring countries where refugees have fled sometimes refuse to let them integrate into society—they are kept in camps, not allowed to hold jobs outside the camps, etc. When it is determined that the likelihood is very slim of refugees either returning to their home country or being able to integrate into the society of the neighboring country, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) elects a very small percentage of people for resettlement to a third country (only about 1% of all refugees, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants).
There are fewer than 20 countries worldwide that regularly accept refugees on a third country basis. According to UNHCR, of the 88,000 refugees resettled worldwide in 2008, the United States accepted around 60,000.
Lansing is a destination for many refugees due to its status as a “free case city”—a home for refugees who don’t already have family living in America. It is a mid-sized city (therefore the cost of living isn’t too high), with adequate bus lines, and an already-diverse population.
An excellent description of the refugee resettlement process can be found at: www.refugees.org.
5. What kind of support do refugees receive?
Plane tickets are paid for from a revolving fund: money is loaned out, and then as it is paid back, can be loaned again to bring more refugees. Refugees are expected to begin paying back this debt, which can amount to thousands of dollars, (imagine bringing a family of 10 from the middle of Africa—with no direct flights!) shortly after they are resettled in the community.
Before they arrive in America, refugees are given a very brief orientation (from three hours to several days), covering topics ranging from how to shake hands, to “survival English”, to how to use basic kitchen appliances. After arrival, they are offered resettlement support (food, shelter, clothing, job search services and school enrollment support). One challenge of the resettlement process, however, is that all refugees are expected to be self-sufficient and independent in a short period of time. This is where the Refugee Development Center can help.
6. What is the role of the RDC?
The Refugee Development Center provides the educational and social support refugees need. By offering after-school tutoring, ESL classes, a computer lab, and staff who are available to practice English or help navigate the community, the RDC has become a source of hope for newcomers. Here they can find smiling faces and opportunities to better their lives through education. We are proud of those who come through our doors, and salute their strength.
Find out more about the Refugee Development Center under “About the RDC”.
