What happens when the Karen arrive in the U.S.?

As outlined in "How do the Karen Get to America?", back in the refugee camp there is an application and approval process that all refugees desiring resettlement in America must complete. After all approvals and clearances are granted, air tickets are purchased on behalf of the refugee family. With tearful farewells, they board a bus with other refugees bound for destinations around the world.

The first stop is the airport in Bangkok. For some, the view of Bangkok out the bus window is their first glimpse of a large city. For most, this will be their first time at an airport. So they climb aboard the airliner for their first plane ride and 24 hours later, land in their new city in America.

There are 10 National Voluntary Agencies with affiliates around the country that carry out the resettlement program on behalf of the government. The local affiliate of one of these 10 organizations will have received notice that the new family is coming. Most of these local agencies feel good if they receive notice two weeks in advance of a new arrival. When large numbers of refugees are arriving though, notice sometimes gets short.

The local affiliate is generally a non-profit organization in its own right and is responsible for the resettlement of the new family. It is seen as the "sponsor" for the refugee family in the eyes of the government. Various agencies work in various ways. Some, will seek churches, groups or individuals to act as "co-sponsors" under their guidance. Other organizations take matters more into their own hands and use local contributions and volunteers to varying degrees. So for those people, groups or churches wanting to assist in resettlement, it is important to coordinate with the local affiliate in the area.

After receiving notice of the arrival of a new family, the local resettlement affiliate will arrange for housing based on the number of family members and provide basic essentials for the new apartment or home. When the new family arrives at the airport, the agency will send representatives and an interpreter to meet them. After exchanging greetings, the new arrivals are taken to their new home. Arrangements to visit the social security office, schools, social service agencies, English classes, etc. will also be made and life as an American begins.

Resettlement in America is not easy. The air ticket that brings a refugee to the US is a loan, not a gift. Payments on the air fare start just 4 months after arrival. There are initial benefits given to new arrivals that vary some from location to location, but they run out in a matter of months. So the expectation is that new arrivals of working age will get a job as soon as they can. The local resettlement affiliate helps new arrivals find work, but to begin working with little or no English ability and job skills is challenging to say the least. Most jobs are in service industries or entry level factory jobs so pay is generally near minimum wage levels and benefits are hard to come by.

The Thai government did not want to make life in the refugee camps too appealing in fear that the country would be overwhelmed with Burmese looking for a better life. So, refugees were prohibited from finding employment while in the camp. Now as they begin working in America, it is likely to be the first regular job they have had. It is also the first time they have had to keep strict schedules, live with electricity, or use heating systems and indoor plumbing in their home. Most adults have never driven a car, used a bank or credit card, experienced a temperature below freezing or eaten a hamburger or pizza. There are many adjustments to make.

Children are placed in the public schools right away, even if they speak no English. The schools will have English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, but school is a challenge for the kids as well. Children are blessed with brains that absorb languages quickly though, and most are able to understand what is happening in class to some degree after a few months. But it is a long time before the parents can understand what all the papers say that the kids bring home from school.

Language is a particular problem for the Karen coming to America now. Many of the Karen from the refugee camps are from remote areas and have not had much formal education either in Burma or in the camps. So they come with little or no English language ability. On a world scale, the Karen are a small group so there are not many non- Karen people that speak Karen. The result, is that interpreters are in short supply. Almost every city in America resettling Karen is desperate for interpreters.

Figuratively and literally, the Karen in America are a very long way from what they've always known as home. That so many come to the US and thrive is a tribute to the resiliency and determination of the people, and the dedication of the workers and volunteers at the resettlement agencies.

(Last updated 4/5/07)