New American Pathway's CEO, Paedia Mixon, breaks down the basics - and why understanding matters for Georgia’s future.
With all the changes to humanitarian immigration policy in 2025 and more changes anticipated in 2026, now is a good time to review some of the basic facts about refugees and other humanitarian immigrants in the United States.
Let’s start with a definition. What is a refugee? A refugee is a person who has fled their country and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, ethnicity, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular group.
Some individuals who meet this definition enter the United States through the U.S. Refugee Program. The modern U.S. Refugee Program was created through the Refugee Act of 1980. It is a public private partnership between the federal government, a network of non-profit organizations, and local communities. The U.S. Refugee Program offers a safe and structured system for interviewing, screening, and approving applicants overseas, then, once refugee status is granted, welcoming and integrating refugees into local communities. A person with refugee status arrives in the U.S. with immigration documentation and is eligible to work. After one year, individuals with refugee status can apply for permanent residence and after five years, can apply for citizenship.
Some individuals who meet the definition of a refugee apply for asylum in the U.S. Asylum seekers either apply for asylum at a port of entry or enter the U.S. another way and then apply for asylum. An asylum seeker’s case is adjudicated, or processed, inside the U.S. While their case is adjudicated, an asylum seeker may be held in immigrant detention or paroled into the community while their case is pending. Asylum seekers in the community can apply for work authorization while their case is decided. If an applicant is granted asylum, he or she is eligible for the same benefits as a person with refugee status. If asylum is denied, the person may be deported.
Finally, some people who are by definition refugees come to the U.S. on other temporary humanitarian statuses. During the Biden Administration several groups entered the U.S. with Humanitarian Parole, including Afghans evacuated during the fall of Kabul, Ukrainians entering through the United for Ukraine Program, and certain Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Cubans and Haitians with family sponsors. Humanitarian Parole is temporary, does not offer a clear pathway to citizenship, and can be easily revoked but does allow recipients legal presence in the U.S. and the right to work. Temporary Protected Status is offered to persons who are in the U.S. and cannot safely return home due to an unforeseen event, like a natural disaster or outbreak of violent conflict. TPS status allows applicants the ability to live and work in the United States until it is deemed safe to return home. TPS is also temporary, does not offer a clear pathway to citizenship, and can be easily revoked.
New American Pathways’ mission is to help refugees and Georgia thrive. We are a partner in the U.S. Refugee Program, but we also serve refugees who come to the U.S. with different statuses because they are fleeing the same types of conflict and need the same kinds of support to rebuild their lives. We are committed to supporting individuals who are fleeing persecution and are grateful for the many ways we are able to support newcomers in our community.
