Refugee Council USA

In January 2000 leaders of the national voluntary agencies that serve refugees formed the Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), a new coalition for refugee protection. They selected LIRS President Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr. as its chairman and primary spokesperson.

Areas of Concern
RCUSA provides focused, effective advocacy on issues affecting the protection and rights of refugees and displaced persons in the United States and across the world. Particular areas of concern are

• adherence to international standards of refugee rights,
• the promotion of the right to asylum,
• political and financial support for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and
• the promotion of durable solutions, including resettlement to the United States.

RCUSA also serves as the principal consultative forum for the national refugee resettlement and processing agencies as they

• formulate common positions,
• conduct their relations with the U.S. government and other partners, and
• support and enhance refugee service standards.

RCUSA Members
Church World Service/Immigration and Refugee Program
Ethiopian Community Development Council
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
Immigration and Refugee Services of America
International Catholic Migration Commission
International Rescue Committee
Kurdish Human Rights Watch
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Migration and Refugee Services/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
U.S. Committee for Refugees
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
World Relief

Page updated October 31, 2003.