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2015 UNHCR subregional operations profile - North America and the Caribbean

| Overview |

UNHCR 2015 North America and the Caribbean subregional operations map

In Canada, UNHCR cooperates with government authorities and engages with civil society and refugee advocacy groups, which are particularly active in promoting resettlement opportunities and refugee protection.

Cooperation with various sectors of the United States Government and judiciary, as well as with civil society, aims to improve international protection standards for people of concern. The interpretation of the refugee definition across national jurisdictions, the promotion of alternatives to detention for asylum-seekers, and the strengthening of protection safeguards for interdictions at sea and apprehension at land-border crossings will remain the main focus for UNHCR.

There have been increasing arrivals at the United States' southern border of children from Central America, both unaccompanied and with families. Many have fled violence at the hands of transnational criminal organizations and other armed groups. UNHCR will offer support to ensure that: those in need of international protection can access territory; norms and standards in reception and detention facilities, as well as alternatives to detention, are promoted; and arrivals receive adequate information about their rights and access to legal representation.

States and territories in the Caribbean are confronted with an increasingly complex phenomenon of mixed migration. The management of these mixed migratory flows poses significant challenges to many of the small island and coastal States in the region, not least due to the absence of functioning refugee status determination (RSD) systems in most cases and limited resource capacities. Many countries resort to systematic detention and deportation, without providing protection-sensitive measures that would allow for the identification of people in need of international protection and effective safeguards against refoulement. Local integration opportunities remain limited, as there are only very few countries that grant residency permits and/or work authorization to refugees. In many locations refugees are in need of UNHCR assistance for their subsistence.

In September 2014,at the Caribbean regional consultation held in the Cayman Islands within the framework of the Cartagena+30 process, further progress was made in the protection agenda in the region. Several forward-looking initiatives were discussed, including the creation of a regional consultative process to facilitate data collection and information sharing on mixed migration; the exchange of best practices in refugee protection; and discussion around other common refugee-related issues. Other issues for discussion include: establishing a regional refugee transit centre to transfer those in need of resettlement; enhancing regional capacity to support people of concern, and create or consolidate RSD processes; as well as presenting alternatives to detention and measures to facilitate local integration.

The Dominican Republic adopted legislation in 2014 that attempts to provide a solution for the tens of thousands of Dominicans, the majority of whom are of Haitian descent, who were deprived of their nationality as a direct result of a 2013 Constitutional Court ruling. Gaps in its implementation may limit its impact on solutions that would restore nationality, with the risk of leaving these Dominicans with undetermined nationality.

| Response and implementation |

UNHCR's overarching objectives in Canada relate to its supervisory role in processing asylum requests and seeking the highest protection standards. UNHCR supports an increase in referrals to Canada and the expansion of its resettlement programme as a durable solution. In particular, the Office will follow up with Canadian authorities on the implementation of the various aspects of the 2012 asylum reform and will strive to enhance refugees' integration prospects. Continued advocacy on alternatives to detention for people of concern will remain a priority to further align Canada's current detention policy with international standards.

In the United States, UNHCR strives to maintain support for its global programmes. The Office will also focus on promoting a favourable protection environment for all people of concern. Particular attention will be paid to access to territory and appropriate procedures, as well as alternatives to detention and the integration of resettled refugees. The Office will continue offering support to the authorities for the adequate protection of all unaccompanied children arriving from Central America and Mexico that may need international protection.

UNHCR will work with Caribbean Governments to promote: access to territory and protection against refoulement, with rapid deployment of UNHCR and partner staff when countries experience a significant influx of asylum-seekers; access to fair and effective RSD procedures, including the phased adoption and implementation of effective RSD systems in key countries; alternatives to detention and the monitoring of detention conditions; durable solutions for people of concern, including strategic resettlement; and the prevention of statelessness and protection of the stateless.

Addressing statelessness in the Caribbean is also a primary focus of UNHCR's strategy for the biennium. Partnerships and joint efforts to: find solutions for those individuals with undetermined nationality in the Dominican Republic, or address the likelihood of individuals of Haitian descent becoming stateless in other parts of the Caribbean are particularly important to the Office. Working to align nationality laws with international standards to eliminate the causes of statelessness is an issue throughout Caribbean States. To build on momentum gained, UNHCR will strengthen its Caribbean Unit in Washington and consider establishing a presence in the Bahamas (to cover the northern part of the Caribbean) and Trinidad and Tobago (to cover the southern part of the region).

In the Dominican Republic, UNHCR will ensure that people of concern can access the territory and asylum procedures. Limited relief for education and medical and material assistance will be ensured through partners for the most vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees, while access to employment and self-reliance will facilitate refugees' local integration. The Office will also focus on solutions, including voluntary repatriation and resettlement. UNHCR will also continue advocating an adequate solution to the country's statelessness population.

The organization's strategy in Haiti will support the ratification of the Statelessness Conventions and the national legislative process on the nationality law and civil registry reform, and address administrative gaps in civil registration and documentation, while promoting increased public awareness around the risks of statelessness. UNHCR will provide the authorities with technical assistance for the adoption of asylum legislation. The most vulnerable asylum-seekers will also receive assistance.

| Financial information |

UNHCR's budget requirements in this subregion have increased from more than USD 17.6 million in 2011 to 21.9 million in 2015.

The 2011 budget was needed to support those internally displaced by the Haiti earthquake. The total 2015 requirements are based on: the Caribbean's renewed engagement in protecting and finding solutions for those travelling in maritime mixed migratory flows; and support for the protection of those displaced from Central America by transnational criminal organizations and other armed groups, who have reached the southern border of the United States.

UNHCR 2015 budgets for North America and the Caribbean (USD)
Operation 2014
Revised budget
(as of 30 June 2014)
2015
Refugee
programme
PILLAR 1
Stateless
programme
PILLAR 2
Total
Total 20,427,258 12,959,737 9,024,219 21,983,956
1. Includes Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, 12 Independent Caribbean States, three other CARICOM States, and British and Dutch overseas territories in coordination with the Europe Bureau.
Canada 2,042,060 1,630,741 53,216 1,683,956
United States of America Regional Office[1] 18,385,198 11,328,996 8,971,004 20,300,000

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2015 Update


UNHCR contact information

The UNHCR Regional Representation in Washington
Style of Address The UNHCR Regional Representation in Washington
Street Address 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 500, 20036 Washington, DC, United States
Mailing Address 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 500, 20036 Washington, DC, United States
Telephone 1 202 296 5191
Facsimile 1 202 296 5660
Email usawa@unhcr.org
Time Zone GMT + -5
Working Hours
Monday:9:00 - 17:00
Tuesday:9:00 - 17:00
Wednesday:9:00 - 17:00
Thursday:9:00 - 17:00
Friday:9:00 - 17:00
Saturday:
Sunday:
Public Holidays 01 January 2015, New Year's Day
16 February 2015, President's day
03 April 2015, Good friday
25 May 2015, Memorial day
03 July 2015, independence day
17 July 2015, eid al fitr
07 September 2015, labour day
23 September 2015, eid al adha
26 November 2015, thanksgiving
25 December 2015, Christmas day
The Director of UNHCR Office in New York
Style of Address The Director of UNHCR Office in New York
Street Address 220 East 42nd Street, Suite 3000, 10017 New York, NY, United States
Mailing Address P.O. Box 20 Grand NY 10017, Grand Central, 10017 New York, NY, United States
Telephone 1 212 963 0032
Facsimile 1 212 963 0074
Email usane@unhcr.org
Time Zone GMT + -5
Working Hours
Monday:AM: 9:30 - 17:30, PM: 9:30 - 18:00
Tuesday:AM: 9:30 - 17:30, PM: 9:30 - 18:00
Wednesday:AM: 9:30 - 17:30, PM: 9:30 - 18:00
Thursday:AM: 9:30 - 17:30, PM: 9:30 - 18:00
Friday:AM: 9:30 - 17:30, PM: 9:30 - 18:00
Saturday:
Sunday:
Public Holidays 01 January 2015, New Year's Day
16 February 2015, President's day
03 April 2015, Good friday
25 May 2015, Memorial day
03 July 2015, independence day
17 July 2015, eid al fitr
07 September 2015, labour day
23 September 2015, eid al adha
26 November 2015, thanksgiving
25 December 2015, Christmas day
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Statistical Snapshot*
* As at December 2014
  1. Country or territory of asylum or residence.
  2. Persons recognized as refugees under the 1951 UN Convention/1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU Convention, in accordance with the UNHCR Statute, persons granted a complementary form of protection and those granted temporary protection. It also includes persons in a refugee-like situation for whom refugee status has, for practical or other reasons, not been ascertained. In the absence of Government figures, UNHCR has estimated the refugee population in many industrialized countries based on 10 years of individual asylum-seeker recognition.
  3. Persons whose applications for asylum or refugee status are pending at the end of 2014 at any stage in the asylum procedure.
  4. Refugees who have returned to their place of origin during 2014. Source: country of origin and asylum.
  5. Persons who are displaced within their country and to whom UNHCR extends protection and assistance. It also includes people in IDP-like situations. This category is descriptive in nature and includes groups of persons who are inside their country of nationality or habitual residence and who face protection risks similar to those of IDPs but who, for practical or other reasons, could not be reported as such.
  6. IDPs protected/assisted by UNHCR who have returned to their place of origin during 2014.
  7. Refers to persons who are not considered as nationals by any State under the operation of its law. This category refers to persons who fall under the agency's statelessness mandate because they are stateless according to this international definition, but data from some countries may also include persons with undetermined nationality.
  8. Refers to individuals who do not necessarily fall directly into any of the other groups but to whom UNHCR may extend its protection and/or assistance services. These activities might be based on humanitarian or other special grounds.
The data are generally provided by Governments, based on their own definitions and methods of data collection.
A dash (-) indicates that the value is zero, not available or not applicable.

Source: UNHCR/Governments.
Compiled by: UNHCR, FICSS.
Residing in United States of America [1]
Refugees [2]
More info 267,222
The refugee figure for the United States of America is currently under review, which may lead to an adjustment in future reports.
Asylum Seekers [3] 187,826
Returned Refugees [4] 0
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) [5] 0
Returned IDPs [6] 0
Stateless Persons [7] 0
Various [8] 0
Total Population of Concern 455,048
Originating from United States of America [1]
Refugees [2]
More info 4,986
A limited number of countries record refugee and asylum statistics by country of birth rather than country of origin. This affects the number of refugees reported as originating from the United States of America.
Asylum Seekers [3] 188
Returned Refugees [4] 0
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) [5] 0
Returned IDPs [6] 0
Various [8] 17
Total Population of Concern 5,191
Government Contributions to UNHCR
2013 Contributions Breakdown
Total contribution in USD: 1,041,707,225 [rank: 1]
Donor ranking per GDP: 11
Donor ranking per capita: 11
2013 Contributions chart
Contributions since 2000
YearUSD
2014
More info1,280,827,870
As at 15 January 2015
2013
More info1,041,707,225
Total contribution in USD: 1,041,707,225 [rank: 1]
Donor ranking per GDP: 11
Donor ranking per capita: 11
2012
More info793,470,742
Total contribution in USD: 793,470,742 [rank: 1]
Donor ranking per GDP: 9
Donor ranking per capita: 11
2011
More info698,168,056
Total contribution in USD: 698,168,056 [rank: 1]
Donor ranking per GDP: 13
Donor ranking per capita: 13
2010
More info712,220,805
Total contribution in USD: 712,220,805 (rank: 1)
Donor ranking per GDP: 10
Donor ranking per capita: 10
2009
More info640,726,528
Total contribution in USD: 640,726,528 (rank: 1)
Unrestricted contribution (USD): -
Donor ranking per GDP: 11
Donor ranking per capita: 13
2008
More info510,251,603
Total contribution in USD: 510,251,603 (rank: 1)
Unrestricted contribution (USD): -
Donor ranking per GDP: 12
Donor ranking per capita: 11
2007
More info367,115,973
Total contribution in USD: 367,115,973 (rank: 1)
Unrestricted contribution (USD): -
Donor ranking per GDP: 16
Donor ranking per capita: 14
2006
More info329,340,441
Total contribution in USD: 329,340,441 (rank: 1)
Unrestricted contribution (USD): -
Donor ranking per GDP: 14
Donor ranking per capita: 10
2005
More info322,711,535
USD 322,711,535 of which USD 107,875,234 (33%) earmarked at the regional level, USD 91,823,975 (28%) earmarked at the subregional level, USD 104,775,341 (33%) earmarked at the country level and USD 18,236,985 (6%) earmarked at the sectoral / thematic level.
2004
More info302,252,199
USD 302,252,199 of which USD 85,289,224 (28%) was earmarked at the regional level USD 106,495,681 (35%) earmarked at the sub-regional level USD 78,477,569 (26%) earmarked at the country level and USD 31,989,724 (11%) earmarked at the sectoral / thematic level.
2003
More info308,694,127
USD 308,694,127 of which USD 1,000,000 (1%) was unrestricted; USD 84,365,000 (27%) earmarked at the regional level; USD 135,813,475 (44%) earmarked at the subregional level, USD 69,348,552 (22%) earmarked at the country level and USD 18,167,100 (6%) earmarked at the sectoral level
2002
More info259,244,770
Total: USD 259,244,770 of which USD 6,000,000 unrestricted (2%), USD 59,922,640 earmarked at the regional level (24%), USD 83,484,527 earmarked at the sub-regional level (33%), USD 96,117,076 earmarked at the country level (38%), USD 13,720,527 earmarked at the sectoral level (5%).
2001
More info244,707,702
USD 244,707,702 of which 6,000,000 (3%) unrestricted and 238,707,702 (97%) earmarked.
2000
More info245,231,712
USD 245,231,712 of which 13,000,000 (5%) unrestricted or with mutually agreed breakdown, and USD 232,231,712 (95%) earmarked.
Private Sector Contributions to UNHCR
Private sector fund raising 2013

Total contribution in USD: 8,155,825
Total contribution in currency: 4,286,988 (XOF); 8,146,825 (USD);
Major donorsUSD
USA for UNHCR
7,901,314
Private donors through USA for UNHCR:
Latter-day Saint Charities, Inc.1,467,500
Koinonia Foundation700,311
UPS Foundation400,000
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation349,990
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation250,000
Islamic Relief USA250,000
The Khaled Hosseini Foundation157,294
Hewlett Packard110,000
Others
United Nations Fund for International Partnerships124,296

2013 Contributions chart
Contributions since 2006
YearUSD
2014
More info10,874,242
As at 15 January 2015
2013
More info 8,155,825

Total contribution in USD: 8,155,825
Total contribution in currency: 4,286,988 (XOF); 8,146,825 (USD);
Major donorsUSD
USA for UNHCR
7,901,314
Private donors through USA for UNHCR:
Latter-day Saint Charities, Inc.1,467,500
Koinonia Foundation700,311
UPS Foundation400,000
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation349,990
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation250,000
Islamic Relief USA250,000
The Khaled Hosseini Foundation157,294
Hewlett Packard110,000
Others
United Nations Fund for International Partnerships124,296
2012
More info 6,718,928

Total contribution in USD: 6,718,928
Major donorsUSD
USA for UNHCR:
Islamic Relief USA1,000,000
Silicon Valley Community Foundation500,000
UPS300,000
Jolie-Pitt Foundation118,000
Others:
United Nations Fund for International Partnerships1,564,450
United Nations Foundation270,479
Microsoft250,000
TOMS Shoes142,605
2011
More info 7,788,031

Total contribution in USD: 7,788,031
Total contribution in currency: 10,000 (EUR); 7,773,765 (USD)
Major donorsUSD
Microsoft Corporation991,888
United Nations Foundation689,765
Pamela and Pierre Omidyar400,000
Jolie-Pitt Foundation302,000
Humanity United198,572
The Khaled Hosseini Foundation178,173
United Parcel Service170,000
Western Union Foundation160,000
Harold Simmons Foundation100,000
The Bridgeway Foundation53,120
Citi Foundation50,000
Stephanie and Hunter Hunt50,000
2010
More info 7,052,866

Total contribution in USD: 7,052,866
Major donorsUSD
Church of Latter-day Saints850,050
Humanity United561,300
Microsoft Corporation489,112
Pamela and Pierre Omidyar400,000
Deborah Berger and William Reeves250,000
Center for American Progress184,040
U.N. Foundation (UNFIP)136,430
Khaled Hosseini122,875
Jolie-Pitt Foundation120,000
The mGive Foundation110,765
Hamed Wardak100,000
Action for Humanitarian Development70,400
Linda Porter70,000
Levi Strauss Foundation50,000
2009 5,755,919
2008 5,267,777
2007 2,070,347
2006 1,704,868

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