INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT INC
Programs
Legal Services for Displaced Individuals
LEGAL SERVICESIRAP SERVES INDIVIDUALS FLEEING FORCED DISPLACEMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE. THIS YEAR, IRAP WORKED WITH CLIENTS FROM 52 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN, WITH THE MAJORITY COMING FROM AFGHANISTAN (31%), SYRIA (18%), IRAQ (14%), AND ERITREA (6%). APPROXIMATELY 57% OF OUR CLIENTS IDENTIFIED AS MALE, 41% AS FEMALE, AND 2% AS TRANSGENDER OR GENDER NON-CONFORMING. BY RISK FACTOR, ABOUT 53% OF IRAP CLIENTS WERE U.S.-AFFILIATED AFGHANS AND IRAQIS, 21% WERE AT-RISK CHILDREN OR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, 17% WERE AT-RISK WOMEN OR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL- AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, 14% WERE SURVIVORS OF TORTURE, 12% WERE MEDICALLY VULNERABLE, 7% WERE RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, AND 6% IDENTIFIED AS LGBTQIA+.LEGAL INFORMATIONTHIS YEAR, 156,887 PEOPLE ACCESSED OUR LEGAL INFORMATION WEBSITE PROVIDING EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ON GLOBAL RESETTLEMENT PATHWAYS FOR MIGRANTS OF ALL NATIONALITIES AT AN ACCESSIBLE READING LEVEL, IN FIVE LANGUAGES. IN ADDITION TO EXTENSIVE LEGAL INFORMATION FOR AFGHANS, THIS YEAR WE ADDED DEDICATED LEGAL RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE FLEEING THE WAR IN UKRAINE, AND WE CREATED SEVERAL NEW GUIDES RELATED TO GLOBAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION PATHWAYS. USERS WERE LOCATED IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES, WITH 33% IN THE UNITED STATES, 25% IN AFGHANISTAN, 7% IN LEBANON, 4% IN JORDAN, 3% IN TURKEY, AND 3% IN PAKISTAN. THE TWO MOST-VIEWED PAGES ON THE SITE THIS PAST YEAR WERE: AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW AFGHAN REFUGEE PROGRAM? AND HOW DO I APPLY FOR HUMANITARIAN PAROLE IN THE UNITED STATES?FAMILY REUNIFICATIONEUROPE: THIS YEAR, WE LEVERAGED OUR CASEWORK TO DEVELOP TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO PROHIBITIVE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY REUNIFICATION THAT HAVE BEEN FORMALLY RECOGNIZED BY GERMAN AND SWEDISH MIGRATION AUTHORITIES. IRAP ALSO PARTNERS WITH EQUAL RIGHTS BEYOND BORDERS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES IN GREECE, INCLUDING THOSE SEEKING FAMILY REUNIFICATION. UNITED STATES: IRAP HAS REDOUBLED OUR EFFORTS TO DEFEND THE CENTRAL AMERICAN MINORS (CAM) REFUGEE AND PAROLE PROGRAM. WHEN MULTIPLE STATES FILED A LAWSUIT SEEKING TO END CAM, IRAP IN COLLABORATION WITH CLIENTS IMPACTED BY CAM JOINED ONGOING LITIGATION TO PRESERVE THIS VITAL FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM. WE ALSO LAUNCHED AN NGO POLICY COALITION TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT CAM FOR ITS THOUSANDS OF EXISTING APPLICANTS, AND EXPAND ELIGIBILITY TO THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL FAMILIES. RESETTLEMENT IN THE U.S.IRAP ADVOCATES TO ENSURE THAT THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SAFE HAVEN FOR FORCED MIGRANTS THROUGH HUMANE, WELCOMING POLICIES. IRAP AND OUR COALITION PARTNERS AT THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY LAB PUBLISHED A BIPARTISAN LETTER SIGNED BY MORE THAN 380 STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND PUERTO RICO, URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO INVEST IN AND REBUILD THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE UNITED STATES' FISCAL YEAR 2023. IRAP'S EFFORTS, INCLUDING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA ADVOCACY, ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S REINSTATEMENT OF THE IRAQI PRIORITY-2 DIRECT ACCESS PROGRAM (FOR IRAQI ALLIES OF THE UNITED STATES), WHICH HAD BEEN SUSPENDED IN 2021. IRAP IS LEVERAGING MOMENTUM FROM THIS VICTORY TO PUSH THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE APPLICATION BACKLOG THAT HAS LEFT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF U.S.-AFFILIATED IRAQIS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN DANGER.FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE ADVOCACY BY IRAP, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TOOK IMPORTANT NEXT STEPS TOWARD CREATING AN EXPANDED CHANNEL FOR NGOS TO AUGMENT THE UNHCR REFERRAL SYSTEM AND REFER CASES DIRECTLY TO THE U.S. RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. THIS CHANGE WILL HELP BRING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO ITS REFUGEE ADMISSIONS GOAL AND PROVIDE MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO U.S. RESETTLEMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR POPULATIONS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.LEGAL PRACTITIONER TRAININGTHIS YEAR, WE TRAINED APPROXIMATELY 2,600 PEOPLE IN LEGAL TOPICS SUCH AS IMMIGRATION PATHWAYS FOR AT-RISK AFGHANS, LEGAL SUPPORT FOR FORCIBLY DISPLACED HAITIANS, AND FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR REFUGEES IN EUROPE. WE ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPERVISION TO LAW STUDENTS AND PRIVATE ATTORNEYS ENGAGED IN OUR PRO BONO NETWORK, AND WE CREATED AN INNOVATIVE "ASK AN EXPERT" ONLINE PORTAL WHERE LEGAL PROFESSIONALS COULD RECEIVE DETAILED AND TIMELY ANSWERS TO TECHNICAL LEGAL QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESS FOR AFGHANS. EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SAFETYIRAP CO-CHAIRS THE ONE REFUGEE APPROACH WORKING GROUP IN JORDAN TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITY BETWEEN TWO LEGAL SYSTEMS FOR FORCED MIGRANTS: ONE FOR SYRIANS AND ONE FOR PEOPLE OF OTHER NATIONALITIES. THIS DOUBLE STANDARD LEAVES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED TO JORDAN FROM COUNTRIES LIKE SOMALIA, SRI LANKA, SUDAN, AND YEMEN UNABLE TO ACCESS HUMANITARIAN RESOURCES AND WITHOUT EQUITABLE PROTECTION FROM THREATS INCLUDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DETENTION, AND DEPORTATION. THIS YEAR WE ADVOCATED FOR A LEGAL FRAMEWORK INCLUSIVE OF ALL REFUGEE GROUPS IN JORDAN. IRAP'S JORDAN STAFF WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMBASSIES IN AMMAN TO FORM A DIPLOMATIC WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS THE UNMET SOCIAL, PROTECTION, AND HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF DISPLACED LGBTQIA+ POPULATIONS FACING WORSENING DISCRIMINATION. THIS YEAR, IRAP PIVOTED TO AN AFFIRMATIVE AGENDA TO REBUILD AND EXPAND PATHWAYS TO SAFETY IN THE UNITED STATES, WHILE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUST, EQUITABLE POLICIES TOWARD DISPLACED PEOPLE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS.EQUAL ACCESS TO ASYLUM IN THE USIRAP WORKED WITH OUR PARTNER, THE MEXICAN NGO DERECHOS HUMANOS INTEGRALES EN ACCIN ("DHIA"), AND OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS, TO DISSEMINATE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS INFORMATION, IDENTIFY AND SCREEN POTENTIAL CLIENTS, AND PROVIDE LEGAL AID TO ADVANCE THEIR CLAIMS. WE COLLABORATED WITH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR MIGRANTS WITH DISABILITIES.TO ADDRESS THE TARGETED ANTI-BLACK RACISM, ISOLATION, AND DISPARITY IN ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT HAITIAN MIGRANTS EXPERIENCE IN MEXICO, IRAP INCREASED OUR LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER. IN 2022, WE HELD THREE LEGAL CLINICS WITH HAITIAN CREOLE INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES INCLUDING TWO WITH OUR PRO BONO PARTNER MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS, LLP TO SHARE LEGAL INFORMATION, HELP PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR QUALIFYING CLIENTS. THESE CLINICS HAVE RESULTED IN INCREASED REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM HAITIAN MIGRANTS, DEMONSTRATING THAT THERE IS A NEED AMONG HAITIAN MIGRANTS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER FOR FOCUSED, LINGUISTICALLY-TAILORED LEGAL SERVICES.FIGHTING THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S MUSLIM AND AFRICAN BANTHIS YEAR, IRAP ENGAGED IN EXTENSIVE ADVOCACY, INCLUDING PUBLISHING AN OPEN LETTER SIGNED BY MORE THAN 75 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DISMANTLE ALL VESTIGES OF THE BANS AND END EGREGIOUS PROCESSING DELAYS THAT PREVENT REFUGEE FAMILIES FROM REUNITING. WE ALSO FILED LITIGATION CHALLENGING UNREASONABLE DELAYS AND DISCRIMINATORY DENIALS OF APPLICATIONS CONNECTED TO THE MUSLIM BAN, INCLUDING TWO LAWSUITS ON BEHALF OF SOMALI REFUGEE FAMILIES WHO HAD BEEN APPROVED TO REUNITE IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE THE BAN WAS ENACTED, BUT WHO REMAINED SEPARATED AFTER IT WAS LIFTED. PROTECTING PEOPLE DISPLACED BY CLIMATE CHANGEIRAP IS WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN THE AMERICAS FOR PEOPLE DISPLACED BY ENVIRONMENTAL OR CLIMATE DEVASTATION, WHICH COULD SERVE AS PROTOTYPES FOR OTHER REGIONS. THIS YEAR, WE COLLABORATED WITH PARTNERS TO DEVELOP TRAINING MATERIALS FOR ASYLUM AND REFUGEE OFFICERS TO BETTER EVALUATE SITUATIONS WHEN CLIMATE CONTRIBUTES TO DISPLACEMENT. PRIVATE SPONSORSHIPIRAP IS A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP OF REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WILL EXPAND RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES BY ALLOWING CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND PRIVATE GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT NEWCOMERS. THIS YEAR, WE PLAYED A KEY ADVISORY ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR AFGHANS AND UKRAINIANS. WE ALSO PUBLISHED JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA, THE COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP HUB, AND THE NISKANEN CENTER FOR A U.S. PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM FOR REFUGEES OF ALL NATIONALITIES.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesSep 1, 2021 – Aug 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$10.2MLitigation for Refugee Rights
LITIGATIONIN FY22, OUR LITIGATION TEAM ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN CASES THAT PROTECT AND EXPAND THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.ON JULY 2, IRAP FILED A LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF OUR TAMIL REFUGEE CLIENT FROM SRI LANKA WHO HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM HIS FAMILY FOR EIGHT YEARS. U.S. CITIZENS AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES ("USCIS") HAS TRANSFERRED HIS FAMILY REUNIFICATION PETITION MULTIPLE TIMES IN A SPAN OF A FEW YEARS WITHOUT MAKING ANY APPARENT PROGRESS TOWARDS ADJUDICATION. IRAP FILED THIS CASE TO EXPEDITE ADJUDICATION FOR THE FAMILY AND TO GAIN BETTER INSIGHT INTO HOW CHANGES IN ADJUDICATION POLICIES AND TRANSFER OF PETITIONS BETWEEN AGENCY COMPONENTS ARE AFFECTING PROCESSING.IRAP, REPRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL AND THE LAW FIRM OF WINSTON & STRAWN, FILED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ("FOIA") LITIGATION SEEKING POLICIES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO USCIS'S PROCESSING OF AFGHAN HUMANITARIAN PAROLE APPLICATIONS. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED TO SHED LIGHT ON USCIS'S HANDLING OF THE 45,000+ HUMANITARIAN PAROLE APPLICATIONS FILED BY AFGHANS SINCE LAST YEAR, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS OVER SLOW PROCESSING AND INEQUITABLE STANDARDS OF ADJUDICATION. IRAP ITSELF FILED, OR ASSISTED IN FILING, OVER 100 APPLICATIONS FOR ITS CLIENTS.OUR SOMALI CLIENT WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF TWO OF OUR CASES IN HIS EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD HIS FAMILY REFUGEE REUNIFICATION PETITION WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REUNITE WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE UNITED STATES. HIS FAMILY REUNIFICATION HAD BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP REFUGEE BAN.IN THIS LONG STANDING CASE REGARDING SYSTEMIC DELAYS IN THE AFGHAN & IRAQI SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA ("SIV") PROGRAMS, WE ARE BACK IN COURT FIGHTING AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPT TO SEEK RELIEF FROM OUR EXISTING COURT ORDER BASED ON ALLEGED CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES AND SEEKING ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT RELIEF. TWO SETS OF ORGANIZATIONS - THE AFGHAN-AMERICAN FOUNDATION AND THE ALLIANCE OF WARTIME ALLIES / VETS FOR AMERICAN IDEALS - FILED AMICUS BRIEF SUPPORTING OUR POSITIONS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesSep 1, 2021 – Aug 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$2.1MPolicy Advocacy for Refugee Support
POLICYIN FY22, IRAP CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR HUMANE, TRANSPARENT, AND WELCOMING POLICIES. RECENT CAMPAIGNS HAVE YIELDED IMPORTANT GAINS FOR DISPLACED PERSONS:POLICY HAS LED THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY'S REPEATED REQUESTS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE REGULAR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS ON THE U.S. REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM AND THE REFUGEE FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM. U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES FINALLY GRANTED THESE REQUESTS AND HOSTED A MEETING ON THE REFUGEE FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM IN JULY AND SCHEDULED QUARTERLY ENGAGEMENTS ON REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, TO START IN AUGUST. ALSO, POLICY LAUNCHED A NEW NGO ADVOCACY COALITION ON THE CENTRAL AMERICAN MINORS (CAM) REFUGEE AND PAROLE PROGRAM. THIS COALITION BRINGS TOGETHER INTERESTED POLICY PROFESSIONALS AND ADVOCATES TO INFLUENCE THE ADMINISTRATION'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS FAMILY REUNIFICATION PATHWAY FOR YOUTH IN CENTRAL AMERICA. SO FAR, OVER 60 ORGANIZATIONS HAVE JOINED THIS COALITION UNDER IRAP'S LEADERSHIP. IRAP POLICY IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH LITIGATION AND LEGAL ON PROTECTING AND EXPANDING THIS PROGRAM. IRAP IS ALSO PLAYING A KEY ADVISORY ROLE IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP MODEL FOR THE UNITED STATES, AND HELPING TO BUILD A COALITION AMONGST REFUGEE ADVOCACY AND RESETTLEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS AROUND THIS ISSUE. IN OCTOBER 2021, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A PILOT COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP PROJECT TO ASSIST NEWLY-ARRIVED AFGHANS WITH RESETTLEMENT, A MAJOR STEP THAT BRINGS US CLOSER TO IRAP'S ADVOCACY PRIORITY TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP COULD SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND BOLSTER SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR RESETTLED REFUGEES THROUGH THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT LEVERAGES BURGEONING INTEREST FROM THE U.S. PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, BUSINESSES, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES TO WELCOME AND SUPPORT REFUGEES. OVER THE PAST YEAR, IRAP HAS EXPANDED TO WORK FOR PRO-REFUGEE POLICIES AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, INCLUDING PARTNERING WITH THE REFUGEE ADVOCACY LAB AND WE ARE ALL AMERICANS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL LEGAL GUIDANCE IN SUPPORT OF STATE-LEVEL CAMPAIGNS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesSep 1, 2021 – Aug 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.4M
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