DCSIMG
Issues: Refugees/Internal Displaced Persons | HumanRights.gov is the official United States Government website for international human rights related information Skip Global Navigation to Main Content
  •  
Skip Breadcrumb Navigation
Skip Left Navigation
Issues: Refugees/Internal Displaced Persons

Refugees / Internal Displaced Persons

Refugees fleeing persecution and conflict, internally displaced persons and stateless persons are the principal recipients of United States’ humanitarian assistance. The United States provides aid to refugees through repatriation, local integration, and resettlement in the United States.

Refugees/Internal Displaced Persons News

Remarks
Remarks at the U.S. Institute of Peace's Passing the Baton 2017: America's Role in the World
Jan 10, 2017 | Secretary of State John Kerry
We didn’t start the Arab Spring. We couldn’t have stopped the Arab Spring. There was no way to put a lid on the Arab Spring; the Arab Spring began in Tunisia when a fruit vendor lit himself on fire. And boom – a 30-year dictator was gone. And then suddenly, you had Tahrir Square and you had a bunch of people who have technology at their fingertips who are out there communicating to each other and wanting change. And that’s how Syria began. ...Read More
Press Release
United States Mission to the United Nations Exit Memo
Jan 5, 2017 | U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samantha Power
When the United States leads at the United Nations, we shape the rules and norms – and we can leverage UN capabilities in service of international security, making the United States safer and stronger, while sparing us financial and operational burdens that are unsustainable for the United States. Over the last eight years, we have re-engaged the United Nations, and we have led the world. ...Read More
Remarks
Explanation of Vote on a Draft UN Security Council Resolution on South Sudan
Dec 23, 2016 | U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samantha Power

Thank you very much, Mr. President. This should not have been a contentious resolution. The United States proposed a resolution meant to show that the architects of mass atrocities and those who defy the demands of the Security Council day in, day out will face consequences. We urged members of this Council to stand with South Sudan’s people, who are suffering immensely due to the actions of their leaders, and we urge that we use ...Read More
Remarks
USUN at a UN Security Council Open Debate on Trafficking of Persons in Conflict Situations
Dec 20, 2016 | U.S. Representative for Economic and Social Affairs, Ambassador Sarah Mendelson
By articulating the nexus between conflict, sexual violence, and trafficking in persons, we can take practical action. Together, we can get governments, civil society, and the UN system to begin systematically to monitor for signs of trafficking in conflict, to train relevant humanitarian personnel and all peacekeeping personnel in how to recognize and respond to victims, to analyze financial flows – to follow the money – to identify where terrorist and armed groups are profiting from the proceeds of human trafficking, and to share information and to seek justice for these crimes. ...Read More
Remarks
USUN at a UN Security Council Briefing on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
Dec 19, 2016 | U.S. Representative to the UN for UN Management and Reform, Ambassador Isobel Coleman

Thank you, Mr. President.

Since we last met to discuss Afghanistan in September, we’ve been encouraged by notable progress on a number of fronts.

Perhaps most significantly, President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah are working together to strengthen the cohesion of the National Unity Government. The transparent and consultative process to select the members of the Independent Election Commission, sworn into office on November 22, demonstrates the commitment of both leaders to build a merit-based, ...Read More
Article
Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada after Bilateral Meeting
Nov 22, 2016 | President Barack Obama

Canada has been an outstanding partner in the fight against terrorism -- not just in terms of intelligence-gathering and information-sharing, but also the incredibly important investments that they've made in the success of the counter-ISIL campaign and that they continue to make.

 

Justin's personal voice on issues of refugees and the humanitarian concerns that we share has been a really important component of the success of things like our leadership summit on refugees at the U.N.

...Read More
Op-Ed
Op-Ed by President Obama and Chancellor Merkel: The Future of Transatlantic Relations
Nov 17, 2016 | President Barack Obama; Chancellor Angela Merkel
Our countries share a joint responsibility to protect and preserve our way of life. It is in this spirit that we are working hard to ensure that international law and norms are respected around the globe – which remains a prerequisite for stability and prosperity...Our deep respect for human dignity compels us to provide humanitarian relief and aid for millions of refugees worldwide, because we know it is our treatment of those most vulnerable that determines the true strength of our values. ...Read More
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Expansion of the Central American Minors (CAM) Program
Nov 16, 2016 | Office of the Spokesperson

In July, the United States announced plans to expand the Central American Minors (CAM) program to allow additional categories of applicants to apply for admission to the United States as a refugee, when accompanied by a qualifying child. This expansion builds on the in-country refugee/parole program established in 2014 that provides a safe, legal, and orderly alternative to the dangerous journey that some children are taking to reach the United States. The CAM program protects ...Read More
Remarks
UPR 26th Session-Intervention for Lithuania
Nov 2, 2016 | U.S. Delegation to the UN Human Rights Council
U.S. recommends that Lithuania: 1) Develop measures to prevent child abuse and corporal punishment, to include passing the draft legislation on children’s rights; 2) Increase funding for NGOs to provide sustainable care to trafficking victims; and 3) Conduct thorough investigations of alleged hate crimes against LGBTI persons, Roma and refugees. ...Read More
Remarks
UPR 26th Session-Intervention for Iceland
Nov 1, 2016 | U.S. Representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Ambassador Keith Harper
U.S. recommends that Iceland: 1) Ensure that victims of domestic, gender-based and sexual violence are able to report incidents and press charges without fear of adverse consequences in case of losing in court; 2) Ensure that sentencing laws appropriately and adequately address domestic and sexual violence; and 3) Increase efforts to prosecute and convict human traffickers through the training of investigators, prosecutors, and judges on detecting and prosecuting such crimes. ...Read More

Featured Video

  • Thread Humanitarian Diplomacy: Refugee Coordinators in Action

    Refugee Coordinators are part of the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), which works with UN and NGO partners to provide aid and sustainable solutions for refugees, victims of conflict and stateless people around the world.

Internal Displacement

  • Thread

    Displacement of Religious Minorities: Cause for Concern

    Many of the displaced are religious minorities — Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Shias, Jews, and lesser known faiths like the Yezidis of Iraq — who have forsaken their communities and their countries due to persecution and violence.

    Read More