APRIL 2016

International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

About IRAP

Founded in 2008 by 5 American law studentsBegan as the Iraqi Refugee Assistance ProjectBecame the International Refugee Assistance

Project in 2015Have offices in New York, Jordan, and LebanonWork with over 27 law school chapters and

over 75 law firms and corporations

Needs for Intervention

First Instance Refugee Cases1. UNHCR Refugee Status Determination (RSD)2. Direct Access Program (“DAP” or P2)

Application3. USCIS AdjudicationAppeals of Refugee Cases4. UNHCR RSD Appeal5. USCIS Request for Review (“RFR”)

Referrals

UNHCR Resettlement Referrals

Legal and/or Physical Protection Needs of the refugee in the country of refuge (this includes a threat of refoulement);

Survivors of Torture and/or Violence, where repatriation or the conditions of asylum could result in further traumatization and/or heightened risk; or where appropriate treatment is not available;

Medical Needs, where life-saving treatment is unavailable in the country of refuge;

Women and Girls at Risk, who have protection problems related to gender;

Family Reunification, when resettlement is the only means to reunite refugee family members;

Children and Adolescents at Risk, where a best interests determination supports resettlement; and

Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions

Protection Referrals

Women and Girls at riskChildren with medical emergenciesMissing, detained, or assaulted personsNeed for immediate medical or cash

assistance

Access to Wraparound Services

Reciprocal referral approachOutreach and partnerships with local and

international organizationsReferrals for medical, psychosocial, legal, and

other educational services even if we cannot take the case

Ensuring registration: the prerequisite to services

IRAP’s Approach

Screen Potential

Client

Intake Interview

with Potential

Client

Follow Up with Client

Make UNHCR

Referral or Assign to Overseas

Legal Team

Refer to Partner

Organization for

Educational, Medical, Legal,

Psychosocial, or other forms of support

Impact of Policy Work

Providing Special Immigrant Visas to American Allies

Access to Legal CounselPriority Processing for the Most VulnerableHelped in Passing Six Major Pieces of

Legislation

Impact on the Ground

IRAP lawyers provide direct support in Lebanon and Jordan:Accompanying refugees to UNHCR hearings and

interviewsConnecting them to educational, health, and other non-

legal services and opportunitiesFrequently, the ability of a refugee to access support

services bolsters their ability to be successfully resettledFor others, access to ongoing education is critical to

ensuring they don’t fall behind during the registration and resettlement process, which takes between two to five years in most cases