Who are Refugees and How Do They Arrive in the United States? Understanding the Refugee Resettlement Process

Hosted on October 7, 2021, this training was delivered by Mak Suceska, State Refugee Coordinator for Iowa; Khadra Bashir, R&P Program Manager, ECDC; Khine Zaw, Paralegal, Steptoe & Johnson LLP; and Rishan Habte, Program Manager for Economic Empowerment, Switchboard. 

This webinar provided an overview of the refugee resettlement process, from flight and displacement to arrival and integration in the United States. It will cover services that are typically provided, the organizations involved at different stages of the process, and information about the anticipated increase in refugee arrivals in 2022. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions of a panel of former refugees about their resettlement experiences. This webinar includes the premiere of Switchboard’s new animated training video Who are Refugees and How Do They Arrive in the United States?

This webinar is aimed at staff, volunteers, and interns who are new to the field of refugee services. It will also be relevant for community partners, including employers, faith-based organizations, receiving communities, and others who interact with refugees and want to understand more about their journey to the United States.

Lesson Objectives

After participating in this 60-minute session, you will be able to:  

• Define key terms related to refugee resettlement, such as “refugee,” “asylee,” and “Special Immigrant Visa”;
• Describe how refugees arrive in the United States; and
• Outline key services in which refugees participate, as well as the organizations involved.