FY2020 APPROPRIATIONS REPORTINGREQUIREMENT REFUGEE DATA –FY2016 TO FY2019
The Committee is concerned about the slow pace of refugee admissions experienced since fiscal year 2017. The Committee directs the Department to submit to the Committee and make available to the public on its website not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this act the following information for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019: the number of USCIS staff assigned to the Refugee Corps at the Refugee Affairs Division of USCIS; the number of refugee processing circuit rides conducted; the number of USCIS Refugee Corps officers assigned to each circuit ride; the destination region and country for each circuit ride; the number of refugee interviews conducted by USCIS; and the number of approvals and denials issued by USCIS.
| Fiscal Year | Authorized Refugee Corps Staff |
|---|---|
| FY 2016 | 289 |
| FY 2017 | 352 |
| FY 2018 | 262 |
| FY 2019 | 253 |
| Fiscal Year | Number of Circuit Rides |
|---|---|
| FY 2016 | 177 |
| FY 2017 | 105 |
| FY 2018 | 67 |
| FY 2019 | 97 |
The destination region and country for each circuit ride, which includes the number of refugee officers on each circuit ride, can be found at Refugee Processing Circuit Rides.
| Fiscal Year | Number of Refugee Interviews Conducted by USCIS |
|---|---|
| FY 2016 | 125,485 |
| FY 2017 | 49,586 |
| FY 2018 | 26,514 |
| FY 2019 | 44,192 |
| Fiscal Year | Approvals | Denials |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2016 | 94,163 | 13,155 |
| FY 2017 | 30,493 | 7,691 |
| FY 2018 | 20,055 | 7,892 |
| FY 2019 | 38,261 | 5,368 |
1These numbers represent the total authorized staffing level assigned to the Refugee Corps each fiscal year.
2These numbers reflect refugee processing trips completed by the Refugee Affairs Division and International Operations.
3These refugee processing trips were completed by both the Refugee Affairs Division and International Operations. The teams, in some instances, included officers from other USCIS offices who were temporarily detailed to the Refugee Affairs Division to assist with refugee processing.
4Data was extracted from the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS) on Feb. 20, 2020. These numbers represent individuals interviewed for refugee status during refugee processing circuit rides and in international USCIS field offices.
5Data was extracted from WRAPS on Feb. 20, 2020. The processing of a refugee case can span across fiscal years. Therefore, USCIS may interview refugees in a particular fiscal year whose cases are not necessarily approved or denied that same fiscal year.