Definitions

Refugee (according to United Sates law): A refugee is an individual outside of the United States, of special humanitarian concern to the U.S., who demonstrates they either were or feared persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, and have yet to be firmly resettled in another country.

Process Priorities: This is a set list of three different priorities, one being the highest, and three the lowest. The priorities classify the priority of a refugee’s admittance to the United States.

USRAP: Stands for United States Refugee Admissions Program. This program works throughout different agencies, both governmental and nongovernmental, in the U.S. and abroad, to give refugee status, approve refugee admittance to the United States, and to then help refugees once they have arrived in the U.S.

USCIS: Stands for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. This government office is in charge of approving or denying a person eligibility to be classified as a refugee.

United States Reception and Placement: The program focuses on helping refugees once they have arrived in the U.S., and helping them settle in. The resources from this program are limited to the first three months after a refugee’s initial arrival.