National Refugee Resources
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.
In more than five decades, the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives. Today, a staff of around 6,300 people in more than 110 countries continues to help 32.9 million persons.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
The State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) provides aid and sustainable solutions for refugees, victims of conflict and stateless people around the world, through repatriation, local integration, and resettlement in the United States. PRM is also advancing the United States' population and migration policies.
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Founded on the belief that newly arriving populations have inherent capabilities when given opportunities, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provides people in need with critical resources to assist them in becoming integrated members of American society.
FBI International Human Rights Unit
The FBI, through its International Human Rights Unit, plays a vital role in the U.S. government’s coordinated efforts to identify, locate, investigate, and prosecute perpetrators of international human rights violations including genocide, war crimes, torture, female genital mutilation, and other related mass atrocities. If you believe you may have information concerning a specific incident of genocide, war crimes, torture, or other mass atrocities or related human rights violations, please submit that information at tips.fbi.gov or contact your local FBI office, domestically or internationally.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States of America.
We establish immigration services, policies and priorities to preserve America's legacy as a nation of immigrants while ensuring that no one is admitted who is a threat to public safety.
To accomplish this, we "adjudicate" (decide upon) the petitions and applications of potential immigrants.
State Coordinators of Refugee Resettlement
Find Coordinators of Refugee Resettlement in different states.
National Voluntary Resettlement Agencies
Links to National Resettlement Agencies' website.
Refugee Council USA
Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), established in 2000, is a coalition of U.S. non-governmental organizations focused on refugee protection. RCUSA provides advocacy on issues affecting the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, displaced persons, victims of trafficking, and victims of torture in the United States and across the world.
The coalition also serves as the principal consultative forum for the national refugee resettlement and processing agencies as they formulate common positions, conduct their relations with the U.S. government and other partners, and support and enhance refugee service standards.
American Council for Voluntary International Action
InterAction is the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) focused on the world's poor and most vulnerable people.
Center for Applied Linguistics
CAL is a private, nonprofit organization working to improve communication through better understanding of language and culture. Established in 1959, CAL is headquartered in Washington, DC.
CAL has earned a national and international reputation for its contributions to the fields of bilingual, English as a second language, literacy, and foreign language education; dialect studies; language policy; refugee orientation; and the education of linguistically and culturally diverse adults and children.
CAL's experienced staff of researchers and educators conduct research, design and develop instructional materials and language tests, provide technical assistance and professional development, conduct needs assessments and program evaluations, and disseminate information and resources related to language and culture.