Thread: Despite economy, refugees still flock here

"Despite economy, refugees still flock here
BY KRISTIN COLLINS - Staff Writer
Published: Sun, May. 24, 2009 02:00AMModified Sun, May. 24, 2009 Y-

Phuat Enuol was thrown in jail by a communist regime in his home country of Vietnam. He has lived on the run in the jungle and in a primitive refugee camp in Cambodia. And for more than two years, he has been separated from his wife and seven children.

He came to North Carolina as a refugee in September, hoping to find the freedom and prosperity that has drawn immigrants to the United States for centuries. But nearly nine months later, he is still unemployed.

For the first time since North Carolina became one of the nation's top destinations for refugees who face political, religious or ethnic persecution in their home countries, they are arriving to skyrocketing unemployment and a growing suspicion of immigrants.


Y-Phuat Enuol lives with his brother, Dien, and is looking for a job. In the meantime, he helps take care of the family's 5-month-old baby, Dely Eban. He sleeps on this daybed in the family's living room.

How resettlement works

People forced from their home countries by religious, political, racial or ethnic persecution are given legal refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The United States agrees to take in a certain number of refugees each year. This year, the limit is 90,000.

Each refugee selected to come to the United States is assigned to one of 10 resettlement agencies, which work with regional affiliates around the country.

Agency workers meet new refugees at the airport, arrange their housing, help them find jobs and offer them classes in English and American culture.

Refugees are entitled to up to eight months of special federal financial assistance. They get special social services, including counseling and other non-financial assistance, for up to five years. And after one month, they become eligible for the same government programs that U.S. citizens receive, including Medicaid and food stamps.

After living in the United States one year, they can apply for legal permanent residency, commonly known as a green card. After five years of permanent residency, they can apply for citizenship.

Staff writer Kristin Collins


Most refugees, who come to the United States as legal immigrants, say they still see this as the land of opportunities, even if those opportunies are fewer and less palatable than in the past. It is taking most at least six months to find a job, and even those who are employed are facing reduced hours, long commutes or no benefits.

"It's hard," said Enuol, who lives in North Raleigh. "But I never lose hope."

The current federal refugee resettlement program began in 1980, and over the past decade, North Carolina has become a popular destination because of its plentiful jobs and low cost of living. Apartment complexes across the Triangle have transformed into global villages that house refugees from Vietnam, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Burundi, Sudan, Iraq and other war-torn nations.

Four refugee resettlement agencies now work in the Triangle, up from one five years ago. The agencies contract with the federal government to help new refugees find housing, learn English and look for jobs.

In 2008, North Carolina ranked 11th in the nation for the number of refugees settled here.

Now, with the state's unemployment rate of 10.8 percent, near the highest in the nation, the agencies are scrambling as never before. Refugees continue to arrive as those already here get laid off.

According to a report from the state Office of Refugee Resettlement, between the beginning of October and the end of January, 460 refugees moved to North Carolina, and 104 found jobs.

Jobs that once provided paychecks for dozens of refugees -- factory and retail work, housekeeping, restaurant dishwashing and construction -- have become scarce.

"Our staff is breaking their backs, knocking on the doors of employers," said Jason Payne, employment services supervisor with Lutheran Family Services. "We're having to be creative."

More refugees coming

Even as the recession deepens, the United States plans to bring in more refugees this year than in the past because of humanitarian crises in countries including Myanmar, Vietnam and Iraq. The quota for this fiscal year is 90,000, up from 70,000 in years past.

Refugee agencies decide where those refugees are resettled, and several North Carolina agencies say the economy has not affected their plans to bring new refugees here.

But as jobs become scarce, unemployment among immigrants is soaring, according to several national studies.

Refugees face even greater obstacles to employment than some other immigrants because many were not allowed to work while living in camps in Africa and Asia, giving them little experience. Many don't have cars, and while most take English classes, they often speak tribal dialects so foreign that it can take years to learn passable English.

The struggling economy is also heightening concerns about immigrants, even those who are here legally. Web sites that oppose refugee resettlement in the United States have sprung up.

kristin.collins@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4881"

http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1540378.html


In some ways this is worse than illegal immigration because the refugee will qualify for, after one month, the same government programs that U.S. citizens receive, including Medicaid and food stamps. IMO, all immigration, including the refugee program, needs reduced, not expanded.

Furthermore, the refugees are competing for the same jobs Americans need. And if they don't get a job our taxes pay for their survival indefinitely. This is ridiculous.

Photographs and a comment section is provided at the link. Please leave a comment if possible.

The United States agrees to take in a certain number of refugees each year. This year, the limit is 90,000.

And this is in addition to the million or whatever people that immigrate to this country legally? Do we really need to import the equivalent of the population of a major city EVERY SINGLE YEAR?

No more Bailout for the World! STOP IMMIGRATION of all the world until we have fixed the problems currently. There are enough people in line legally to America that we will not be stopping immigration entirely.

Stop Visa and all entry until we fix the immigration problems.

Our staff is breaking their backs, knocking on the doors of employers," said Jason Payne, employment services supervisor with Lutheran Family Services. "We're having to be creative."




Creative huh?

And that "creativity" includes driving bus and van loads of refugees to towns miles and miles and miles away to try and beat unemployed American citizen locals out of jobs in their own towns, right?

Sorry but it's time for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to begin looking into ways for these people to stay in their home countries by changing the conditions which have driven them out.

There isn't a country in the world right now, and especially THIS one, which can afford to take care of refugees from other countries where persecutions, etc. have been permitted to continue.

Refugee agencies decide where those refugees are resettled, and several North Carolina agencies say the economy has not affected their plans to bring new refugees here.

This sentence says it all. Your government could give a CRAP about you!
They only care about 3 things, votes, donations, and big business.

They should be sent to China and India. THAT is where our jobs are.

azwreath wrote:

Sorry but it's time for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to begin looking into ways for these people to stay in their home countries by changing the conditions which have driven them out.

I agree. Why isn't the U.N. doing more to ensure these folks get to return to their own homes instead of pawning the refugees off on other countries? Furthermore, considering our current economical problems, the United States has no obligation to take in 90,000 refugees a year.

Originally Posted by MW

azwreath wrote:

Sorry but it's time for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to begin looking into ways for these people to stay in their home countries by changing the conditions which have driven them out.

I agree. Why isn't the U.N. doing more to ensure these folks get to return to their own homes instead of pawning the refugees off on other countries? Furthermore, considering our current economical problems, the United States has no obligation to take in 90,000 refugees a year.

Don't forget the 2 million Palestinians the Jerk just committed to!

They are wanting to filter third world people all over the world. It is called invasion of many kinds.... trouble is coming...