Refugee Resettlement Office

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) was established by Congress under The Refugee Act of 1980. This Act incorporates the definition of "refugee" used in the U. N. Protocol, and makes provision for regular flow as well as emergency admission of refugees, and authorizes federal assistance for the resettlement of refugees. Individuals granted refugee status overseas by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security are brought to the United States for resettlement by the U. S. Department of State. Voluntary agencies and ORR through their programs assist with their resettlement and integration into the U. S. Refugees are eligible to receive ORR benefits and services from the first day they arrive in the U. S. Founded on the belief that newly arriving populations have inherent capabilities when given opportunities, the goal of the ORR is to provide people in need with critical resources to assist them in becoming integrated members of American society.