Resettlement Countries Research Articles

Who Welcomes Refugees? Examining Religious and Social Influences on Refugee Service Provision in the U.S. Southeast

The United States is home to one of the world’s largest third-country refugee resettlement programs; however, resettlement services provided through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) are limited, as policies prioritize rapid economic self-sufficiency at the expense of other facets of integration and resettlement needs. Beyond the USRAP, non-governmental refugee third-sector organizations (RTSOs) offer more holistic resettlement services that extend integration support beyond the federally funded resettlement program. Drawing on publicly available information from 203 refugee service organizations in the southeastern U.S., we examine the services offered by official USRAP-funded resettlement agencies (RAs) and local refugee third-sector organizations (RTSOs) in connection to their social affiliations, such as religious and ethnic origins. This research sheds light on the complexities of refugee resettlement and contributes to a deeper understanding of refugee integration efforts in resettlement countries undergoing demographic, political, and identity shifts.

‘Resettlement is worthwhile for our children’s future’: reflections from the Stateless Rohingya refugees in Malaysia

Resettlement to a third country offers a durable solution for refugees who cannot integrate into their asylum or transit countries. While most studies focus on the experiences of refugees after their arrival in resettlement countries or on the political aspects of resettlement, fewer studies explore refugees’ perspectives prior to resettlement. This paper examines how Rohingyas in Malaysia view their resettlement opportunities. We collected qualitative micronarratives from 56 adult Rohingyas living in Malaysia between March and September 2019, to explore the complexities of their decision-making processes. The findings indicate that most Rohingyas aspire to resettle in another country to gain legal status or citizenship, providing a better future for their children, including access to education and healthcare. However, preferences among Rohingyas vary: while some are eager to resettle, others express a strong desire to return to their home country in Myanmar. Still, others wish to reunite with family in Myanmar or Bangladesh, and a significant minority are reluctant to resettle in non-Islamic countries, reflecting broader concerns about cultural and religious compatibility. This study highlights the varied resettlement preferences among Rohingyas, underscoring the need for resettlement policies to consider these diverse priorities to enhance the effectiveness of resettlement programs.

Comparing Refugee Resettlement Services: A New Global Dataset and Typology

Abstract The number of countries participating in resettlement has increased substantially in recent years: since 2010, one-third of resettlement countries officially began offering permanent homes to refugees. The services provided to refugees upon resettlement are surprisingly distinct, even among countries with similar political and economic contexts. Despite the importance of these services, existing scholarship offers surprisingly little comparison of resettlement policies globally. To address this gap, this multi-method project analyses refugee resettlement services in 26 countries that are responsible for 99.9 per cent of all resettled refugees, from 1951 to present. The study introduces an original Global Resettlement Services dataset with 42 indicators that provide a current, reliable, and easily accessible overview of resettlement services in each country. Cluster analysis of these data helped to construct a typology that captures four distinct “types” of refugee resettlement: Limited Provision, Cultural Transition, Core Services, and Flexible Support. The typology provides a framework to help policy-makers, academics, and practitioners increase collaboration, design innovative programmes, and improve existing resettlement services. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the different approaches to resettling refugees worldwide, with significant implications for advancing theory and improving global refugee resettlement policies.

Resettlement by algorithm: Can artificial intelligence uphold human rights?

This article focuses on the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the resettlement of refugees and its implications for their fundamental rights. Resettlement is the process of selecting refugees and transferring them to a third country that agrees to admit them permanently. While AI has the potential to improve efficiency and effectiveness in resettlement processes, such as matching refugees with suitable resettlement countries and places, it also poses various risks and raises concerns about human rights violations. The article examines the current and potential uses of AI throughout the resettlement process, including the selection and referral of refugees for resettlement and the facilitation and improvement of integration. The article then analyses the potential impact of AI on fundamental rights. The article concludes by arguing for a cautious approach to using AI in resettlement processes. It emphasises that the use of AI in assessing refugee inclusion and exclusion for resettlement, as well as matching them with different resettlement states, could conflict with fundamental rights. This raises concerns about transparency, explainability, accountability, effective remedies, data protection, and the risk of bias and discrimination.

Refugee women and work: Evidence from an Australian longitudinal study

AbstractObtaining employment is a high priority for people with refugee backgrounds in countries of resettlement and an important aspect of integration. There are a range of barriers to gaining work for new arrivals; however, much of the existing quantitative evidence on characteristics of employment and facilitators and barriers to work faced by refugees does not consider gender or focuses primarily on men. We used a large, longitudinal survey of over 2000 refugees to Australia to identify characteristics of employment for refugee women and factors associated with the likelihood of employment. Refugee women had lower rates of employment compared with pre‐migration and were concentrated in lower‐skilled occupations. There were gender differences in predictors of employment outcomes and English language proficiency, living outside major cities and self‐assessed health were all significant determinants of employment for refugee women. The findings highlight the need for specifically considering the employment trajectories of refugee women and the importance of a gender‐informed employment strategy for new arrivals.

Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Needs of Refugee Women Exposed to Gender-Based Violence: The Case for Trauma-Informed Care in Resettlement Contexts.

This paper assesses literature regarding the sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) needs of resettled refugee women who experienced gender-based violence (GBV) and trauma-informed care (TIC) principles utilized among SRH service providers. A systematic search identified relevant studies published between 2000 and 2021; no articles found reflected both SRH and TIC principles among refugee women. The search was therefore separated into two aims: to review the literature about SRH needs for refugee women in resettlement countries who experienced GBV (Aim 1) and to examine the use of TIC principles in SRH care among women who experienced GBV (Aim 2). Thematic analysis of the articles identified key themes. Twenty-six articles were included in the analysis across both aims (Aim 1 = 8, Aim 2 = 18). Aim 1 articles shared three factors shaping the SRH needs of resettled refugee women: the centrality of violence and trauma; structural barriers to SRH care; and actions, practices, and resources for service providers. Aim 2 articles illustrated seven key principles of TIC used in SRH service provision, such as empowerment; trauma-specific services and integrated care; connection; safety; collaboration; identity culture and context; and trustworthiness. Resettled refugee women's experiences of violence necessitate trauma-informed SRH health care. While there is limited peer-reviewed literature regarding TIC-SRH care for refugee women, the findings regarding the SRH needs of refugee women and the findings regarding the implementation of TIC in SRH collectively frame recommendations for how SRH can be infused with TIC. An example from practice, in the form of the Refugee Women's Health Clinic, is included as an exemplar of TIC SRH principles in action for the health of resettled refugee women who have survived gendered violence.

Hungarian Refugees in the United Kingdom in the Context of the Domestic Policy (1956–1957)

After the suppression of the 1956 uprising in Hungary, a large group of political refugees, most of them young and often highly skilled professionals, left for the West. Most of the refugees fled to Austria. Austria immediately called on countries to help both financially and physically by resettling the refugees. Most of the refugees were very quickly resettled in other countries. These facts stand in stark contrast to contemporary resettlement practice, which is characterized by a shortage of resettlement sites and a small number of resettlement countries. The scarcity of jobs and the peculiarities of the migration policies of some countries (e.g., the United Kingdom) meant that some refugees could not find a long-term place in European countries and therefore sought refuge overseas. In 1956 and 1957, Canada took in more than 37,500 Hungarian refugees. The United States was also a more common c Hungarian Refugees in the United Kingdom in the Context hoice for refugees than the United Kingdom, for example.

Housing and health for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds: findings from an Australian qualitative longitudinal study

BackgroundFor people from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds, housing and the re-establishment of home are key social determinants of health. Research highlights the inequities faced by asylum seekers and refugees in the housing markets of high-income resettlement countries, resulting in their overrepresentation in precarious housing. There is also emerging evidence of the relationship between housing and health for this population relating to lack of affordability, insecurity of tenure, and poor suitability (physical and social). The mechanisms by which housing impacts health for this group within these housing contexts, is however, understudied - especially overtime. This qualitative longitudinal study aimed to address this gap.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 people from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds in South Australia, recruited through a community survey. Thematic analysis of interview data across three time points over three years identified four material and psychosocial mechanisms through which housing contributed to health outcomes via psychological and physical stressors - physical environment; stability; safety; and social connections, support and services. The study also identified additional health promoting resources, particularly elements of ontological security. The dynamics of these indirect and direct mechanisms were further illuminated by considering the impact of international, national and local contexts and a range of intersecting social factors including gender, country/culture of origin, family circumstances, immigration status, language skills, income, and health status.ConclusionsRebuilding a sense of home and ontological security is a key resettlement priority and crucial for wellbeing. More comprehensive strategies to facilitate this for refugees and asylum seekers are required.

Does country of resettlement influence the risk of labor market marginalization among refugees? A cohort study in Sweden and Norway.

This study aimed to compare the risk of labor market marginalization among refugees across different host countries of resettlement and examine the moderating role of birth country and length of stay on these associations. Cohorts of refugees and native-born individuals aged 19-60 in Sweden (N=3 605 949, 3.5% refugees) and Norway (N=1 784 861, 1.7% refugees) were followed during 2010-2016. Rates (per 1000 person-years) of long-term unemployment, long-term sickness absence, and disability pension were estimated for refugees and the host populations. Cox regression models estimated crude and adjusted (for sex, age, educational level, and civil status) hazard ratio (HRadj) for refugees compared to their respective host population, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Analyses were also stratified by birth country and length of stay. Refugees in Norway and Sweden had a higher incidence of labor market marginalization compared to their host population. Refugees in Sweden had a comparatively lower relative risk of long-term unemployment but higher risk of disability pension (HRadj 3.44, 95% CI, 3.38-3.50 and HRadj 2.45, 2.35-2.56, respectively) than refugees in Norway (HRadj 3.70, 3.58-3.82 and HRadj 1.57, 1.49-1.66, respectively). These relative risks varied when stratifying by birth country. A shorter length of stay was associated with a higher risk of long-term unemployment and a lower risk of disability pension, with a stronger gradient in Sweden than in Norway. The relative risk of labor market marginalization varied by the refugees' birth country but followed similar trends in Sweden and Norway. Although speculative, these findings may hint at non-structural factors related to the refugee experience playing a more important role than host country structural factors for the risk of labor market marginalization among refugees. Future research, including host countries with more variability in structural factors, is required to further investigate these associations. The higher risk of long-term unemployment among refugees with shorter length of stay indicates a need for more efficient labor market integration policies for newly-arrived refugees.

Investigating refugees’ negotiation of professional possible selves

AbstractMany barriers threaten refugees’ professional and social integration in their resettlement countries. Through semi‐structured interviews and based on the concept of possible selves, we aimed to understand how 22 refugees aged from 18 to 35 and coming from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yemen constructed and negotiated their career plans considering contextual factors. Results show that forced migration impacted the participants in three different ways: some were still striving for the ideal, pursuing their ideal career plans, while others were revising them either by revisiting the ideal or letting go of the ideal. They used different strategies of reducing expectations, exploring new possibilities, delaying, or abandoning their ideal plans for more probable ones, considering their current situation and barriers (i.e., lack of language proficiency, refugee permits, recognized diplomas, or childcare solutions). We discuss concrete implications for practice and provide future research insights.

A mixed methods systematic review of mental health self-care strategies for Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants

BackgroundSelf-care strategies can improve mental health and wellbeing, however, the evidence on preferred strategies among Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants is unclear. This mixed methods systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise the global research on mental health self-care strategies used by these populations.MethodsEnglish and Arabic language studies reporting on positive mental health self-care strategies to address symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety and depression in the target populations were identified by systematically searching eight electronic databases and grey literature. Studies were deemed eligible if they were published from 2000 onwards and included Arabic-speaking migrants, refugees or asylum seekers aged 12 years and above. A narrative synthesis of study characteristics and relevant key findings was undertaken. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021265456).ResultsFifty-nine records reporting 57 studies were identified, the majority appearing after 2019. There were 37 intervention studies that incorporated a self-care component and 20 observational studies that reported on self-generated self-care practices. Across both study types, four broad groups of mental health self-care were identified—social, psychological, religious/spiritual, and other (e.g., expressive arts and exercise). Psychological strategies were the most reported self-care practice overall and featured in all intervention studies. Religious/spiritual and social strategies were more common in the observational studies. Intervention studies in diverse settings reported statistical improvements on a range of outcome measures. Observational studies reported a range of individual and community benefits. Linguistic, cultural and religious considerations, inherent in the observational studies, were variably addressed in the individual and group interventions.ConclusionOverall, study participants experienced self-care as helpful although some encountered challenges in practicing their preferred strategies. Further research on mental health self-care strategies among Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants is needed in Western resettlement countries to guide mental health service delivery and primary healthcare initiatives for new arrivals and in transit countries.

The wellbeing and support experiences of parents and caregivers from South and Southeast Asian refugee backgrounds during the First 2000 Days: A systematic review

There is growing scholarly attention concerning the wellbeing experiences of people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, particularly in relation to antenatal and postnatal care in countries of resettlement. However, less is known about early childhood support for refugee and asylum-seeking parents during the First 2000 Days of a child's life (conception to age five). There is also little understanding of the needs of refugees and asylum-seekers from South and Southeast (S/SE) Asia for whom there may be unique cultural considerations regarding parenting and support. This systematic review therefore aimed to explore the emotional and physical wellbeing and support experiences of refugee and asylum-seeking families (mothers, fathers, and other family members with caregiving roles) from S/SE Asia during the First 2000 Days. This review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We identified publications through a systematic search of six databases. Eligible papers were peer-reviewed, primary data studies published in English, conducted in middle- to high-income countries of resettlement, and included data that could be disaggregated for S/SE Asian families. Of 5,770 publications, 13 articles met inclusion criteria. While our review aimed to explore the experiences of various family members, included papers focused primarily on the experiences of refugee women. Our review found that S/SE Asian refugee parents reported various challenges to physical and emotional wellbeing during the First 2000 Days ranging from nutrition and diet concerns to feelings of anxiousness, grief, isolation, and feelings of distress in healthcare settings. Parents also expressed a level of trust and satisfaction with maternity care during resettlement, however, these experiences were challenged by a lack of culturally responsive care. Findings speak to the importance of informal social supports for S/SE Asian refugee parents, and culturally safe, formal supports where parents feel comfortable to voice their concerns.

Informal sport and (non)belonging among Hazara migrants in Australia

ABSTRACT Sport participation can offer migrants a modality to connect with dominant cultural norms and potentially foster interculturalism, yet it is often fraught with exclusion. Little is known about how informal sports that migrants have introduced into countries of resettlement affect their (non)belonging. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork over a 14-month period, this article examines how Hazara men’s involvement in the ethno-specific informal sport of sangarag influences their post-migration experiences of (non)belonging in Australia. The findings indicate that Hazara men’s construction of sangarag as a space and resource for belonging needs to be understood as a response to the challenging circumstances they experience in their settlement journeys. The overt and subtle politics of belonging that govern sangarag reinforce intra-group differentiations, most notably in relation to gender and ability. Further tensions stem from sangarag’s marginal status outside of the Australian sports system, leaving participants to feel unsupported and misrecognised by local institutions. Implications for policy include the need to recognise and support the value that informal sports can have for migrants’ ability to (re)claim a sense of belonging and wellbeing.

Barriers and Challenges of Immigrant Women’s Access to and Experience of Optimal Maternity Care

With an increase in immigrant populations, healthcare systems are experiencing a new wave of ethnic-cultural diversity among patients. For the 48.1% of women among global migrants, maternal healthcare services are often the first level of contact with new healthcare systems in countries of resettlement. However, immigrants face many barriers, including socioeconomic and language considerations. As maternal care requires frequent contact with health care services through all stages of pregnancy, ensuring the quality of care is important to protect maternal and infant health. Using a systematic review method analyzing 17 articles from PubMed and Google Scholar in the past 20 years, 3 overarching themes were identified: lack of access to prenatal care, cultural insensitivity during in-hospital settings, and challenge in identifying and experiencing post-partum depression. This literature review reveals the broader influences and contextual variables in maternity care and highlights problems relating to the acceptability and accessibility of maternity services for immigrant women. Overall, this paper reveals the importance of considering immigrants’ socio-cultural context of childbirth practices, creating more accessible prenatal classes, and addressing disparities in postpartum depression. This knowledge can better inform health services delivery and formulate health promotion strategies to address discrepancies in maternal health outcomes.

Access to Healthcare Among US Adult Refugees: A Systematic Qualitative Review.

Refugees encounter numerous healthcare access barriers in host countries, leading to lower utilization rates and poorer health outcomes. In the US, social inequities and fragmented health systems may exacerbate these disparities. Understanding these factors is necessary to ensure equitable care of refugee populations. A systematic literature review of qualitative studies on US adult refugee healthcare access from January 2000 to June 2021 was performed in accordance with PRISMA. Studies were analyzed deductively and then inductively to incorporate previous findings in other resettlement countries and emergence of US-specific themes. 64 articles representing 16+ countries of origin emerged from the final analysis, yielding nine interrelated themes related to health literacy, cost of services, cultural beliefs, and social supports, among others. The main challenges to refugees' healthcare access emerge from the interactions of care fragmentation with adverse social determinants. Given diverse barriers, integrated care models are recommended in treating refugee populations.

Cultural–legal brokering and gender: A study of refugee‐serving institutions upon resettlement

AbstractIncreased academic attention to the intersections of refugee studies and gender studies has focused on the lives and trajectories of refugee women. In this study, we examine resettlement institutions involved with refugee women, drawing upon critical scholarship on “brokerage.” Brokers reproduce and impose the powers of the state, but also negotiate with and resist the state. We draw from interviews with resettlement workers and refugee leaders in refugee‐serving institutions, focusing on one mid‐sized metropolitan area in the United States. We argue that resettlement institutions enact brokering not only in the cultural domain but also the legal domain. We further posit that cultural–legal brokering is enacted via contested negotiation of idealized patriarchal values–traditions in both the countries of origin and resettlement.

Pedagogical challenges in integrating refugee students in the Global North: A literature review

For several years now, military conflict, climate change, lack of food, and other forces have compelled many people around the globe to leave their countries and live in exile. As shown by exponentially increasing statistics, children are leaving their homes, sometimes their families, and their schools. Once they arrive in a country of resettlement, they face the challenge of new schooling. To understand how best to support these exile communities and those who work with them—students, their parents, teachers, schools—I searched the international literature for the main challenges of schooling refugee students in resettlement countries in the Global North. This literature review identifies the variety of their profiles, the challenges related to pre- and post-migration experiences, as well as all the intertwined issues taking place within the school: language learning, relationships with the teacher and with other students, teacher training, etc. These challenges are numerous and their intertwining only makes them more complex. Understanding them therefore seems to be the basis of any action in support of refugee education.

Arts-Based Approaches to Languages Education with Refugee-Background Learners in the Early Years: Co-Creating Spaces of Hope

Young learners with refugee experiences face a constellation of challenges particular to forced migration and resettlement. Experiences of trauma, violence, poverty, and disrupted or limited access to formal education and healthcare can have complex and long-term impacts on learning. Further, the sociocultural and linguistic challenges of undertaking education in unfamiliar schooling systems in transit and resettlement countries can also impede learner engagement and obscure individual strengths. However, like all student cohorts, children with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds are also unique, with individual personal, sociocultural, and linguistic attributes on which to draw. While these assets may be overlooked or obscured in traditional educational contexts, arts-based approaches to instruction can offer generative and affirming learning spaces that illuminate individual strengths and provide powerful rejoinders to deficit constructions. This article provides an overview of recent research that explores vibrant and innovative arts-based approaches to languages instruction for refugee and asylum-seeker background learners in the early years. The article takes the form of a scoping study of literature using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework to map the field of research, document novel instructional approaches, and identify key themes. Our discussion is oriented toward educators who seek to innovate their own instructional practice. In addition to exploring the creative avenues for language instruction described in the literature, we consider key themes that emerged inductively from our analysis including the agentic value of arts-based instructional practices, the role of narrative in articulating experiences of place and identities, and the significance of arts-based connections between home and school linguistic repertoires.

‘Do know harm’: Examining the intersecting capabilities of young people from refugee backgrounds through community sport and leisure programmes

Young people from refugee backgrounds have been repeatedly denied the ability to lead a life that they value. Community sport and leisure has been positioned as a tool to foster positive wellbeing experiences for these young people living in Western resettlement countries. Drawing on qualitative data from a Participatory Action Research project in London, England, we apply Nussbaum's Capabilities Approach to examine how the young people made sense of and negotiated their interconnecting capabilities through the sport and leisure programme. We examine three key interconnections between the capabilities of (a) life, bodily health and play; (b) affiliation and emotion and (c) bodily integrity and control over the environment. The findings are significant in ensuring sport and leisure provides opportunities for young people from refugee backgrounds to engage in positive wellbeing experiences and for enabling them and those supporting them to know and challenge harmful practices that may restrict capabilities.

A systematic review of prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety in displaced Syrian population

Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, at least 13 million Syrians have been displaced. The vast influx of Syrians in resettlement countries has made it difficult to address the mental health problems of this population. Establishing policies around the risk factors are very fundamental for the social and political course of events and the well-being of Syrians. Thus, it is crucial to understand the correlates of mental health problems to establish effective prevention programmes. This systematic review synthesised literature investigating the prevalence and correlates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety of the externally displaced Syrian population. Following the PRISMA guideline, we searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science databases. The search was limited to peer-reviewed articles published between March 2011 and 2021. Seventeen studies met full eligibility criteria. The confidence interval (95%) of the prevalence is between 23.26 and 42.63% (SE=4.48) for PTSD, 30.29 to 50.53% (SE=4.47) for depression and 17.66 to 48.93% (SE=5.62) for anxiety. The results indicate that the mental health problems of this population are 7–8 times higher than the general population. The relationships between sex, economic status and mental health problems are mixed across studies, with female Syrians in Turkey being at greater risk. Marital status, education level and resettlement period were not significant predictors, but the number of traumatic events predicted mental health problems. More population-based and statistically strong studies are needed to identify the mental health problems of this population and their risk factors to provide effective mental health interventions.