FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Who are refugees?

According to the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights' Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (OHCHR), a refugee is a person who

owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.

Where do refugees come from?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources' Administration for Family and Children, 1872 refugees arrived in Illinois in 2007.  The largest groups being from Burma, Somalia, Burundi, Thailand, USSR (Russia), and Iran.  In 2007, the refugees that were resettled in Illinois came from a total of thirty-four different countries!! 

In 2006 and 2005 the largest refugee groups to come to IL were from USSR (Russia) and Somalia.  In 2004 the largest group was from Liberia, and in 2003 it was from Yugoslavia. 

What about 2008?

The following facts are according to the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

Area, ceiling number of admissions and the majorities.

Africa: 16,000.  Most being from Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

East Asia: 20,000.  Most being from Burma.

Europe and Central Asia: 3,000.  Most from Russia and Ukraine.

Latin America and Ceribbeans: 3,000.  Most from Cuba.

Near East and South Asia: 28,000.  Most from Iraqis, Bhutanese, and Iranian religious minorities.