One of the consequences of the war in Iraq has been the displacement of millions of Iraqis, a humanitarian crisis that still leaves thousands of Iraqis with little or no prospect of a safe return home or integration in their country of asylum. The US government has recently increased the number of Iraqi refugees being resettled in the United States. From only 202 resettled in the United States in 2006, more than 25,000 Iraqi refugees have now arrived, and that number is likely to rise to more than 30,000 by the end of fiscal year 2009.

This past April, delegations from the International Rescue Committee's Commission on Iraqi Refugees traveled to Atlanta and to Phoenix to see firsthand the challenges Iraqi refugees are facing as they adapt to a new life in this country. The IRC delegations met with Iraqi refugees and local health care providers, employers, educators, state officials, and many others to examine impediments to their successful integration. Many Iraqi refugees painted a picture of despair and frustration. Because of the economic downturn, refugees who normally are employed within weeks of arrival instead are having trouble finding a job. A job is the linchpin of the resettlement program. Without secure income and with public assistance strictly limited, some are facing eviction from their homes. These challenges are exacerbated by the special needs of an urban, educated refugee group with high levels of injury, illness and trauma.

The IRC Commission on Iraqi Refugees' report makes a number of recommendations to the US government. It calls for improving the funding and structure of the resettlement program and identifies measures that Congress and the executive branch can and should take immediately. The report calls also for a comprehensive study of domestic resettlement to identify what has worked and what has not.

Speakers:

George Rupp, President, International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Robert Carey, Vice President for Resettlement and Migration Policy, International Rescue Committee

Robin Dunn-Marcos, Executive Director of the IRC Phoenix office

Alaa Naji, Iraqi refugee resettled by IRC

Moderator: Kathleen Newland, Director of the Migrants, Migration, and Development, and Refugee Policy Programs, MPI; Member of the Board of Overseers of the IRC; and member of the IRC Commission

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Dixon via email at events@migrationpolicy.org or by phone at (202) 266-1929.