A Fast Track to Refuge, or a Pathway to Nowhere? Designing Successful Priority 2 Group Designations

Abstract

Priority 2, or P-2, group designations, offer the promise of efficient refugee resettlement processing for groups of refugees that share common characteristics. But many P-2 groups—most of all, those designated for the Iraqi Direct Access Program—have failed to advance efficient resettlement for their members. This article identifies the traits required for successful P-2 designations: having easily identifiable members, offering a benefit that other referral mechanisms do not, facilitating access to refugee processing, providing accurate information about processing, and operating for a reasonable period. In many cases, other programs and methods of referral, including encouraging<br>individual referrals of a targeted group, will achieve better access to refugee resettlement.

Keywords: refugee resettlement, U.S. immigration law, P-2 resettlement