World Refugee Day: The United States Working to Advance Freedom and Human Dignity

“The commitment of the United States to protecting and assisting refugees is deep and abiding. This commitment is part of our nation's history and it goes to the very core of our values.”  - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

“The U.S. response to global challenges in population and migration also reflects our values of promoting human rights, and protecting people from exploitation or coercion.”  - Assistant Secretary of State, Ellen R. Sauerbrey.

World Refugee Day is June 20, a day when the United States underscores its commitment to the millions of refugees around the globe. The State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), headed by Assistant Secretary Ellen R. Sauerbrey, leads U.S. efforts to protect and assist refugees and victims of conflict, and coordinates U.S. foreign policy on population and international migration issues. It also oversees the U.S. refugee admissions program.

Since World War II, more refugees have found permanent homes in the U.S. than in any other country. The U.S. is also the largest single donor to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), making it a global leader in refugee protection and assistance.

PRM manages over $800 million in annual appropriations for programs that help some of the most vulnerable with their basic needs and that provide lasting solutions for millions of refugees. PRM's partnerships with international and non-governmental organizations strengthen responsibility sharing on behalf of the American taxpayer and program performance on behalf of victims of persecution and conflict.

PRM's work demonstrates the generosity and compassion of the American people. As we assist victims of persecution and conflict, we transform societies and uphold the first pillar of President Bush's National Security Strategy: promoting freedom, justice, and human dignity.

Protecting and Assisting Vulnerable People

PRM supports life-sustaining and capacity-building assistance programs addressing needs related to food, health, shelter, water and sanitation, education and empowerment. This support ranges from helping the World Food Program prevent food supply interruptions in refugee camps in Kenya , to providing kitchen kits for newly displaced Colombians, to sponsoring education and skills courses for women in Afghanistan .

PRM protection activities aim to raise awareness and to improve protection for some of the most vulnerable members of society. Programs have included national and community education initiatives to prevent and respond to gender-based violence; a micro-enterprise project for trafficking victims in India ; and a youth education and athletic program for Sudanese refugees from Darfur to minimize recruitment of child soldiers.

PRM-funded activities enable victims of persecution and conflict to pursue a lasting solution to their plight, whether it involves returning to their home, building a new life in their country of asylum, or resettling permanently in another country.

A Nation of Immigrants and Refugees Welcomes Refugees

When refugees cannot return home or integrate into the local population in their country of temporary refuge, resettlement in the United States and other countries allows them the opportunity to rebuild their lives. More than 2.6 million refugees have come to the United States since 1975. The President of the United States , after consulting with Congress, determines the number of refugees that can be admitted each year.

Refugees selected for U.S. resettlement undergo rigorous health and security screening, and participate in an orientation program to introduce them to American culture, values, and laws. Congress allocates funding for the network of overseas and domestic organizations that provide critical services for refugees, but it is the enthusiasm with which communities welcome these new arrivals that best reflects America 's belief in freedom, human rights, and equality.

PRM also advocates for the U.S. Government's international population and migration policies, promoting those goals through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

Leadership in Population Diplomacy

The world's population is currently estimated at 6.4 billion, and is expected to increase by another billion before 2015. Approximately 98 percent of this population growth is expected to occur in developing nations. In contrast, many countries throughout the developed world are expected to experience dramatic population decline and aging.

The goal of U.S. policy is to promote healthy and educated populations. The U.S. supports voluntary and informed decision-making regarding family planning so that all couples can achieve healthy families of the size they desire. The U.S. Government provides substantial foreign assistance to improve maternal health and to combat maternal, infant, and child mortality.

Promoting Orderly and Humane Migration

People migrate for many reasons: to escape conflict, to avoid environmental degradation or natural disasters, to seek economic opportunities, or to reunite with family. Of the world's estimated 191 million migrants, women and children are especially vulnerable to extreme exploitation such as trafficking for labor or sex.

PRM promotes orderly and humane international migration by supporting dialogue with governments to share best practices and cooperate on a range of region-specific issues, including border security, asylum procedures, and the protection of the human rights of migrants. PRM also works with governments, international and non-governmental organizations in the fight against trafficking in persons.