The Federal Refugee Act of 1980 incorporated an existing network of private resettlement agencies and public agencies into a national Refugee Resettlement Program. Each state participating in the program is represented by a State Refugee Coordinator. The responsibility of the Coordinator is to promote an integrated approach to policy and program development and to assure efficient use of service and benefit resources. BRIA's mission is to direct resources which assist refugees and their families in achieving economic and social self-sufficiency, to aid other legal immigrants in their transition to life in the U.S., to help repatriated citizens arrive safely at home, and to assure the foster care of unaccompanied refugee minors. Most Bureau activities are conducted through contracts with local service providers.
Documented immigrants are an important segment of New York's population and economic base.
Nearly one in ten New Yorkers are non-citizens eligible for naturalization and in need of help to become US citizens. Refugees have fled their homelands and are granted status based on their persecution or a well founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Most refugees enter the United States with few resources and face several obstacles to self-sufficiency. BRIA targets many of its programs to help this population. Approximately 10,000 refugees entered New York State in 1999.