A Refugee's Journey

AA REFUGEE'S JOURNEY START 1 YEAR LATER 2 YEARS LATER 3 YEARS LATER 4 YEARS LATER 17 YEARS LATER 1995 1998 Binwa was bused from a transit center to Benaco Refugee Camp, along with 250,000 other refugees. While in the camp, Binwa and her family applied for resettlement. They were denied due to an interpreter's error. Policy Recommendations © Sandra ten Zi At the camp, Binwa was given critical humanitarian care, but was never issued valid proof of refugee status. OCorentin Fol The denial notification did not specify the reason why Binwa and her family were denied resettlement. © Matthias Krämer 1997 2013 Due to a lack of urban refugee programs, Binwa's husband began working illegally to support the family. 1996 Asylum Access supports U.S. Immigration Senate Bill, S.744 Asylum Access stresses the importance of supporting Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration [PRM] Aid. Binwa's daughter is now 18-years old and she still lives at the camp, The Tanzanian government S. 744 incorporates a number of important reforms to the existing laws relating to refugees, asylum seekers and stateless people. insisted refugees return to their homeland. Many returned against their will. Binwa and her family were forced to remain at the camp indefinitely. OHoward Sayer PRM provides protection, eases suffering, and resolves the plight On his return home from work, Binwa's husband was arrested unable to access higher education and job opportunities. She has spent the majority of her life in refugee camps. of persecuted and uprooted | people around the world on behalf | of the American people. 1994 Binwa, a 13-year-old girl, witnessed the death of her parents and brothers. Afraid to return to their home country, Binwa and her family fled to Dar es Salaam, where they no longer were able to receive humanitarian assistance. and detained because he did not have legal urban residency. He was detained for six months. S. 744 improves the procedural fairness in immigration | procedures relating to resettlement for refugees Binwa's daughter is eager to pursue a higher education and Binwa hopes that her daughter will have a different fate from her © Adriane Ohanesian | Currently, PRM is working towards | creating durable solutions and programs of assistance for I refugees in urban settings. At the camp, Binwa married another refugee. She later gave birth to a girl. As a result of his detention, Binwa and her family were sent to another refugee camp. In her attempt to flee, Binwa was detained and raped. | overseas. © Corentin Fohlen own. Traumatized, Binwa followed others as they fled across the Tanzanian border. Additional funding can enable | PRM to make greater findings and improvements towards refugee rights and assistance. Policy Recommendations I PRM is currently supporting I programs that facilitate safe | employment opportunities for | urban refugees and that help refugees access their rights. | However, more funding is required. | S. 744 requires that refugees denied admission to the | resettlement program be advised of that denial in writing with | reasons. Binwa's daughter's dream can be realized through the following policy enhancements: Applied 1. Support for S. 744 2. Support for increased PRM aid intended for urban assistance programs. | If such programs were available, | Binwa's husband mayhave been able to find legal employment to support his family. If such requirements were |available, Binwa and her family | could have sought assistance regarding the interpreter's error and reapplied for resettlement. asylumaccess