A Second Chance Shouldn’t Be a Lottery: Refugee Youth Deserve Better

Fellow Series
Written By Barbara Langford

By Farid Rasuli

A Second Chance…At Life

It was 2015 and I vividly recall the humid Indonesian air when a United Nations representative called with life-changing news: I would be resettled in the United States. My joy drowned out his words—I couldn’t wait to hang up and celebrate. For nearly 15 months, I had been trapped in limbo, forced to forget my mother’s laughter, the countless fútbol matches with friends, and my education because my host country barred refugees from attending primary or secondary school. Most crucially, I had no choice but to grow up far sooner than I anticipated.

In 2014, my home country, Afghanistan, experienced one of the deadliest years of its intergenerational war. By then, the conflict had spanned over four decades, with more than one marked by direct United States involvement. With no hope in sight for peace and constant danger from both the Taliban and, at times, coalition forces, thousands of Afghans fled to Europe and neighboring countries in search of safety. I was no exception. My family made the bravest—and only—decision they could: to arrange my escape.

Through an underground migration network run by human dalals, I suddenly found myself flying for the first time. Alone. If escaping war wasn’t overwhelming enough, now I had to pretend that I knew my way around airport security, overpriced food, and transit in countries I had only heard the names of. I fumbled my way through India and Malaysia before finally arriving in North Sumatra, where I found refuge in bleak, prison-like shelters originally built for war prisoners during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation of the 1960s.

But that call changed everything.

I started jumping up and down, punching the air, feeling like I had just won the lottery. This was the moment that split my life in two—a dividing line between a painful past and a future I could finally dream of. A shot to rebuild. A shot to find home. A chance to contribute. Just a chance—something nearly every peer I met on this journey longed for.

I did win the resettlement lottery. After waiting another two years to clear bureaucratic hurdles and secure a bed in America, I finally arrived. Upon arriving in the United States in 2017, I was placed in a group home and later a semi-independent living arrangement. High school never felt like the right fit, but Washington State’s school reengagement program offered an alternative path. With the support of a persistent social worker, I enrolled in the Career Education Options (CEO) program at Bellevue Community College, which later helped me secure a full-ride scholarship to Seattle University, where I studied Business Economics. Completing my education felt like revenge against the previous three years when my only access to learning came from the worn-out, donated books in our camp’s library and my YouTube teachers. 

The U.S. refugee resettlement system—despite its shortcomings—has been a global benchmark since its inception. This system is even more critical for those who arrive without an adult relative or family member (hereafter “refugee youth”). Recent policy shifts, the spread of overwhelmingly negative and inaccurate narratives about refugees, and my firsthand experiences illustrate how this American tradition is fading. Setting aside the moral implications and America’s longstanding tradition of welcome, I believe this shift is a long-term loss for us all. By strengthening resettlement pathways, we aren’t just shaping a future where every young person forced to flee has the chance to rebuild and thrive—we are also enriching our communities and proving to the world that we live by our values.

Pathways to Potential

Historically, the U.S. Refugee Program stands out as one of the least controversial American policies. It has not only met a true humanitarian need but has also advanced U.S. interests—at home and abroad. Globally, it has strengthened the U.S.'s position as a leader by demonstrating our commitment to shared responsibility and living our values, in addition to positively contributing to regional stability in global war zones.¹ At home, studies repeatedly find that refugees enrich our communities in many ways—including their net positive impact on our economy² –  and that the public generally sees accepting them as a moral obligation.³ 

At the federal level, the policy of welcoming refugees traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support as well. In fact, when the Refugee Act was signed into law by President Carter in 1980, it passed the Senate unanimously. This legislation created the framework for today’s U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by establishing a systematic process for resettling refugees, funding self-sufficiency programs, and coordinating federal and state agencies to ensure that refugees could successfully integrate into American society. Amongst the 3.6 million refugees resettled by the U.S. since then, less than one percent were refugee youth. And at the center of it all is a little-known office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that embodies the complexity, challenges, and possibilities for refugees.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is responsible for carrying out the U.S. refugee program. ORR works with international organizations to complete the pre-resettlement requirements such as interviews with immigration officers, medical examinations, and cultural orientation. The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Department of Homeland Security, and other U.S. security agencies vet refugees and complete background checks while ORR works with its regional resettlement service providers such as Global Refuge (AKA Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) to arrange flights and find housing for them in states. For refugee youth, ORR is mandated to provide the same level of care as state-run child welfare systems. To that end, ORR assists refugee youth through two distinct yet similar programs: Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) and Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC.)

 
 

The most common pathway for URM youth is through referrals by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which was my case. Other eligible groups include Haitian and Cuban entrants, victims of trafficking, and those who have experienced other forms of persecution. Special categories also exist for children who are victims of qualifying crimes, and, more recently, Afghan and Ukrainian minors with humanitarian parole have become eligible. 

By contrast, UAC youth—primarily those arriving at the southern border—may have pending asylum cases. Unlike URM, which places youth in state-run foster care, UAC youth are placed with sponsors or housed in shelters under federal custody. While both groups receive similar care, they are classified under separate legal frameworks, creating additional challenges in access to services, legal representation, and long-term stability. Despite these challenges, ORR and its nationwide coalition of NGOs – which bridge child welfare expertise with refugee resettlement efforts—have served as a lifeline for thousands of young refugees, giving them a second chance.

The URM Program has evolved over time, mirroring global crises and shifting U.S. immigration policies. The program was de facto created in response to the Vietnamese refugee crisis, when over 5,730 refugee youth were resettled between 1979 and 1984 with the help of two U.S. faith-based organizations—Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).⁴ This effort showcased the U.S.’s capacity to help when the political will existed.

Current Policy Shifts Put Lives at Risk

Since January 2025, a sweep of federal actions has significantly reduced protections for unaccompanied youth already in the U.S. while outright banning refugee admissions for those awaiting resettlement. According to an ICE memo, refugee youth already in the country are being singled out for deportation, and their sponsors are now subject to invasive data collection, including DNA sampling.⁵ In addition, legal aid programs for these youth are reportedly being cut.⁶

While refugees previously approved for resettlement are still permitted to enter the U.S. as of March 28, new admissions may be halted at any time. A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling has limited U.S. District Court Judge Jamal Whitehead’s total block of the ban, effectively giving the federal government the authority to suspend new refugee admissions.⁷ This ruling followed a lawsuit brought by individuals and service providers in Seattle, WA, in February.

This is eerily reminiscent of 2017, when, for the first time in modern history, a U.S. president unilaterally halted refugee admissions—without evidence, without justification, and without consideration for the lives at stake. Even in the wake of 9/11, the refugee program continued, albeit with stricter vetting. Despite its challenges, the refugee resettlement program has endured because it is both a crucial humanitarian commitment and an investment in stronger communities.

Under the current administration, that continuity is in jeopardy. With lives at stake, we must do everything possible to ensure the program’s survival.

Advocates and funders focused on the well-being of youth and young adults must shift their long-term strategy toward systemic changes that prevent the politicization of refugee admissions. However, immediate action is also needed. There are critical steps we can take right now to support refugee youth.

What Can Funders Do?

1 / Invest in Narrative Change Strategies

First, we must directly confront the false and damaging narratives about refugee youth. The same tired myths resurface time and again—now deployed as a political strategy rather than an honest debate. Outrage alone is not enough. We must act, not just speak to those who already agree. We need to build bridges, amplify refugee stories, and center youth leadership. 

Debunking Myths About Refugee Youth

One of the most persistent myths is that refugees pose a security risk. This is blatantly false. There has not been a single major terrorist attack in the U.S. involving a refugee since the 1980s—a finding even supported by researchers at the Cato Institute, despite their often-controversial views.⁸ If anything, refugees are far more vulnerable to violence than they are a threat to anyone else. The very reason they flee is to escape terrorism, persecution, and war.

In the refugee camps where I lived, people came from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Palestine, and beyond. They weren’t security threats—they were teachers, students, gym instructors, and construction workers. Just everyday people trying to survive.

And let’s be clear—if someone wanted to harm the U.S., they wouldn’t pick the refugee process. There are far easier ways to plan an attack than spending years in a refugee camp, undergoing multiple rounds of security screenings, and waiting for resettlement approval. A person with enough money in their bank account could easily obtain a tourist visa—a faster and far less restrictive process.

Another common myth is that refugees are freeloaders. If that were true, we would just stay in refugee camps. No one chooses to live in limbo, barred from working, and denied the ability to rebuild their lives.

I spent years in refugee camps, surviving on rations because I had no other choice. Let me be clear: there is nothing enjoyable about it. In fact, after being forced into dependency, you develop an even greater appreciation for work. That sweet exhaustion of falling asleep after a full day’s work? I never take that for granted. After being banned from working for years, I would choose labor over handouts any day.

We were raised to work hard—something often forgotten when talking about refugee communities. The poorest communities work even harder just to survive. And the data backs this up. Refugees positively impact the economy in many ways:

  • Start businesses at higher rates than U.S.-born individuals (13% vs. 9%)⁹

  • Contribute more to taxes than they receive in government assistance¹⁰

  • Hold $82 billion in purchasing power¹¹

Take my cohort of more than 45 refugee youth from our shelter in Indonesia. Those resettled in the U.S. now work as long-haul truckers, warehouse managers, chefs, and entrepreneurs. My friends are many things—but freeloaders? Not one of them.

Another myth is that the vetting process isn’t thorough enough to ensure U.S. security concerns.  Anyone who believes refugee vetting is weak is welcome to sit down for a coffee with me. I’ll walk you through exactly what we go through before arriving here.

I was underage, and even for me, the process was brutal. For adults, it can take three to four years just to clear vetting. The medical examination alone was one of the most rigid and tense checkups I’ve ever had. Two nurses simultaneously injected me with nine+ vaccines—one working my right arm, the other my left. I felt like a test subject.

And once that was done, the dehumanization didn’t stop. Four immigration officers escorted me from the shelter to Jakarta airport. Another special officer was assigned to watch over me all the way to Seattle.

Anyone who still believes refugees aren’t thoroughly vetted—let’s talk. I’ll bring the coffee.


The "Culture Takeover" Argument—What Culture?

In addition to the often used and inaccurate narratives described above, lately, we’ve been hearing a newer, lazier anti-immigrant argument—that refugees and immigrants are “taking over” American culture.

But what culture, exactly?

The most American thing about America is that every American comes from somewhere else—and that the country itself exists on stolen land. The foods we eat, the music we listen to, the traditions we celebrate—they are all products of cultural exchange. This country was built on waves of newcomers who shaped and enriched the national identity. To oppose that process is to stand against the very thing that makes America, America.

And let’s be real—refugee youth embrace American culture faster than most Americans do. We aren’t here to erase anything. We love a good K-dot v. Drake feud, we watch Star Wars, and we grill for weekend barbecues just like everyone else.

This argument isn’t just false—it’s arrogant. It assumes that American culture is so fragile that it can’t handle the very thing that created it.

 

2 / Beyond Narrative Change: Investing in Supports for Refugee Youth

Refugee youth have unique needs and distinct challenges, even as their commitment to rebuilding their lives remains common traits. The journey from home to safety forces them into survival mode, which in turn fuels their resilience. In addition to investing in narrative change strategies to counter the pervasive harmful stories and messages, foundations must also invest in programs that nurture resilience and promote independence for refugee youth. The most critical of these supports include:

  • Mental health support (when youth are ready)

  • Educational support (as I experienced firsthand)

  • Long-term legal assistance (to help navigate reunification and stability)

In addition to these essential supports, refugee youth need community and belonging and help to navigate a brand new place and culture.  Yet many never get that support.

I experienced this firsthand.

When I found out about my resettlement location, I wasn’t even sure if I had ever heard of Seattle, WA. A quick Google search told me it was home to corporate headquarters and an obsession with coffee.

The cultural orientation class and my own research left me with more questions than answers. I wanted to know where Afghan communities lived, whether I would find people who spoke my language and who I’d be living with.

But I arrived with zero knowledge of my new home, forced to figure it out step by step.

It shouldn’t be this way.

Youth arriving alone should not have to navigate these uncertainties by themselves—especially when the data exists to provide better guidance. UN representatives and other stakeholders must be more transparent about resettlement locations, community ties, and available resources. For many refugee youth, choice isn’t even an option—they are sent where space is available, often without any consideration for how that location impacts their ability to adapt and thrive.

When I first arrived, I was excited but deeply uncertain. But meeting other refugee youth in my group home changed everything. Our shared experiences created an unspoken bond, easing the overwhelming transition and providing a sense of normalcy. Later, I found community in youth advocacy, working with The Mockingbird Society—an organization that has been at the forefront of child welfare reform in Washington state.

 

3 / Invest in Research to Improve Policy and Practice 

Finally, funders can take immediate action by supporting targeted research on the long-term outcomes of unaccompanied refugee youth.  We know the overall impact of refugees in the U.S., but too little information exists about the unique challenges and experiences of URM and UAC youth. Without this research, we cannot design policies and programs that truly support them.

The Choice Is Ours

For now, I know that many young people who were waiting for that life-changing call will never get it. I also know that many refugee youth already here are too afraid to go to the local grocery store. It should not be this way.

But I also know, as Dr. King wrote from his Birmingham jail cell, “The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?”

The choice is ours. Will we allow fear and indifference to shape our policies, or will we fight for a future where every young person forced to flee has the chance to rebuild and thrive? The answer will define who we are—not just as a country, but as a people.

 

References 

1 Niskanen Center. (2024, October). The U.S. refugee program serves American interests at home and abroad [Policy memo]. https://www.niskanencenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Edited-_-Policy-Memo_-The-U.S.-Refugee-Program_-Serves-American-Interests-at-Home-and-Abroad.pdf

2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2023). The fiscal impact of refugees and asylees: Evidence from 2005 to 2019. https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/3dd52e6be9abfa2b7462be0fb3a9c81f/aspe-brief-refugee-fiscal-impact-study.pdf

3 Ipsos. (2020, June 19). World Refugee Day 2020: US release. https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/World-Refugee-Day-2020-US-release

4 Office of Refugee Resettlement. (1984). Annual report to Congress 1984. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/orr/annual_orr_report_to_congress_1984.pdf

5 Taylor, M., Hesson, T., & Cooke, K. (2025, February 23). Trump officials launch ICE effort to deport unaccompanied migrant children. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-directs-ice-agents-find-deport-unaccompanied-migrant-2025-02-23/

6 The Guardian. (2025, March 22). White House halts funding for legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/22/white-house-legal-aid-funding-cuts-unaccompanied-migrant-children

7 AP News. (2025, March 28). Appeals court allows Trump administration to block new refugee approvals but permits prior approvals. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/refugee-program-trump-administration-appeals-court-a6188722de3e3e1d2f344862b853d0c7

8 FOX 13 Now. (2017, January 29). How many terror attacks have refugees carried out in the United States? https://www.fox13now.com/2017/01/29/how-many-terror-attacks-have-refugees-carried-out-in-the-united-states

9 New American Economy Research Fund. (2017). From struggle to resilience: The economic impact of refugees in America. https://research.newamericaneconomy.org/report/from-struggle-to-resilience-the-economic-impact-of-refugees-in-america/

10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2023). The fiscal impact of refugees and asylees: Evidence from 2005 to 2019. https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/3dd52e6be9abfa2b7462be0fb3a9c81f/aspe-brief-refugee-fiscal-impact-study.pdf

11 HIAS. (2022, October 12). A deep dive into the economic impact of refugee resettlement. https://hias.org/news/deep-dive-economic-impact-refugee-resettlement/

Barbara Langford
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