Refugee Resettlement is a complex, multi-lateral system. The U.S. Admissions Program determines how refugee resettlement operates in the United States. Some of the Parties involved in the refugee journey are: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 9 National Affiliate Resettlement Agencies, and local resettlement agencies such as JFS.
Once a case has been referred to the United States by the UNHCR, the U.S. Government screens the refugee and determines whether it would like to admit them for resettlement. Depending on the location where the refugee will be resettling, the case is referred to one of 9 National Affiliate Agencies, who then refer the case to local resettlement agencies such as JFS.
HIAS, originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, is a nonprofit organization providing humanitarian assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. Established in 1881, HIAS originally aided Jewish refugees fleeing Russia and Eastern Europe. Today, the organization resettles refugees and asylum seekers from countries all over the globe.
As our National Affiliate, HIAS works in partnership with JFS to ensure the safety and successful resettlement of refugees referred to San Diego County. We are proud to share a history and ongoing commitment to the Jewish value of Welcoming the Stranger.