David Y. Ige

WATCH News conference — briefing on White House – Governors’ Conference Call on Syrian refugees:

Syrian Refugee Facts related to Hawaii:

• Over the past 10 years, only 21 refugees from around the world have resettled in Hawaii.
• 0 of the 21 refugees relocated to Hawaii are from Syria.

(According to Pacific Gateway Center – the only refugee resettlement agency in Hawaii)

Syrian Refugee Facts related to U.S.:

• Since 2011, the United Nations referred 23,092 Syrian refugees through the U.S. Refugees Admissions Program.
• 7,014 made it through the initial, vigorous process which includes through background checks by the State Department.
• Fewer than 2,000 of the 23,092 were allowed to enter the country after passing the various rounds of extensive vetting process.

U.S. Vetting process:

Refugees are subject to the highest level of security checks of any category of traveler to the United States, among the most rigorous screening programs in the world. The vetting process involves the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense.

Placing approved refugees:

The State Department has two main criteria when placing refugees in the U.S.  Refugees must have a sponsor (relative) and must be placed in a community that can offer them a cultural network of support.

Step-by-step infographic on the refugee screening and entry process:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/11/20/infographic-screening-process-refugee-entry-united-states