However, a significant proportion of refugees continue to receive public assistance many years after their entry. Some refugees clearly need significant levels and periods of assistance. It is unreasonable to assume that an elderly, seriously traumatized refugee will become self-supporting. Barring that person from eligibility for SSI after a specified period undermines the humanitarian nature of our original decision to admit him or her. But, many more refugees are dependent on public programs, including SSI, than can be explained by the presence of this relatively small number of seriously disabled victims of persecution.
Welfare reform provides an opportunity to revisit the refugee assistance program.
So, too, does the expected change in the number and composition of refugee admissions once resettlement has wound down in the two major, Cold War-related programs for admission of refugees from the former Soviet Union and Southeast Asia. I hope that the Congress will give the Commission time to finish our investigation and consultations with the Executive Branch, private resettlement agencies, state governments, and others before adopting changes in SSI or AFDC policy that could have significant ramifications for refugee resettlement. I will be glad to answer any questions.