U.S. refugee program failing Iraqis, report says

CNN ^ | June 16, 2009 | CNN

[AuntB]

Iraqis fleeing violence in their homeland are struggling in America, where they had hoped to make new lives, said a report issued Tuesday .....

"Nearly all of the Iraqis we surveyed had expectations that they would receive better care from a government whose policies had a hand in their upheaval, particularly those who put their lives on the line to work for the U.S. military and government and were targeted as a result,"

"They deserve better."

In 2008, the United States admitted 13,823 refugees from Iraq.

Though grateful to be in America, the Iraqis told the refugee experts that they had been unable to secure jobs ...... Many faced eviction from their apartments and feared a life of poverty. Some pondered whether the life they left behind, though mired in fear, might have served them better.

The State Department allots $450 per refugee. Individual refugees also are eligible to get eight months of cash assistance and medical assistance .....

Refugee families could be eligible for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families benefits and Medicaid, but eligibility varies from state to state.

It also recommended that all refugees receive a viable and uniform package of services and assistance, regardless of where they are resettled.

Only 25 percent of Iraqi refugees were able to find a job in their first six months in the Atlanta area.

Compounding the problem for the Iraqis is the fact that many were highly educated professionals in their homeland, and now are disappointed when they cannot find work in their areas of expertise. Even entry-level jobs are now elusive, the report found.

"High numbers suffer emotional trauma, war-related injuries or chronic illnesses," the report said. "Unstable living conditions and uncertainty about the future compound their psychological distress."

[AuntB]

Great! We've imported yet another group that we can't please.

[ChocChipCookie]

So in this economy of 400-600,000 lost jobs per month, we’re supposed to give hiring priority to people who just got off the boat? They didn’t exactly move here during a boom year.

[skeeter]

Immigrants should receive priority for job placement, never mind the 9.4% unemployment rate among the natives.

Americans sacrificed to free Iraqis from tyranny - surely they won't mind sacrificing their livelihoods for them here at home, as well.

[VR-21]

I had to double check to be sure this wasn’t written by John Semmons. Those Iraqi’s have incredible chutzpah.

[Leg Olam]

‘Iraqis told the refugee experts that they had been unable to secure jobs’

We need more taxis and convienience stores for them.

[TheZMan]

In all fairness, a good number of them did provide invaluable help in the war, risking their lives in the process.

I hate welfare as much as the next guy, but I’d be careful to insult these refugees so freely.

[ridesthemiles]

They are getting free housing, free money for living expenses- call it welfare or food stamps- it is still free.
They are getting free classes in English and other instruction.

How much should we pay for them to ‘feel welcome”???

[Condor51]

Here's an idea....

Give every Head of Household an AK-47, 1000 rounds of ammo, and a Plane Ticket to the middle of Mexico.

They'll feel right at home in their new Mud Hut, 24/7 gunfire, kidnappings in the middle of the night, and their relatives getting beheaded by a Machete.

Refugees (aka: DPs) who came here after WWII kissed the ground when they got off the boat.

Screw these ungrateful (blank).