Refugee Status

(1) Individuals with the following statuses may be eligible for services and benefits under the MA Refugee Resettlement Program. For purposes of the program, "refugee" is used to describe anyone who falls within the following statuses. Also see 45 CFR § 400.43(a)(1) through (6): (a) Individuals paroled as refugees or asylees under § 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). (b) Refugees admitted under § 207 of the INA. (c) Asylees whose status was granted under § 208 of the INA. (d) Cuban and Haitian entrants, as defined below, in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR § 401.2: 1. Any individual granted parole status as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant (Status Pending) or granted any other special status subsequently established under the immigration laws for nationals of Cuba or Haiti, regardless of the status of the individual at the time assistance or services are provided. 2. A national of Cuba or Haiti who was paroled into the U.S. and has not acquired any other status under the INA and with respect to whom a final, non-appealable, and legally enforceable order of removal, deportation or exclusion has not been entered. 3. A national of Cuba or Haiti who is the subject of removal, deportation or exclusion proceedings under the INA and with respect to whom a final, non-appealable, and legally enforceable order of removal, deportation or exclusion has not been entered. 4. A national of Cuba or Haiti who has an application for asylum pending with USCIS or the Executive Office of Immigration Review, U.S. Department of Justice, and with respect to whom a final, non-appealable, and legally enforceable order of removal, deportation or exclusion has not been entered. (e) Lawful permanent residents provided the individuals previously held one of the statuses identified 121 CMR 2.420(4)(a) through (d). (f) Certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to the United States as immigrants pursuant to § 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 (as contained in § 101(e) of Public Law 100-202), as amended (8 U.S.C. § 1101 note). (g) Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants per section 1244(g) of Div. A of Pub. L. 110-181, as amended (8 U.S.C. § 1157 note) and section 602(b) (8) of Div. F of Pub. L. 118-8, as amended (8 U.S.C. § 1101 note). (h) Victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons per the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-386, as amended, 22 U.S.C. § 7105(b) (1) (A) and (C). (2) Individuals must submit valid documentation of refugee, asylee, Cuban and Haitian Entrant, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder, or Amerasian status from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); or of Victim of human trafficking status from the federal Administration for Children and Families or from USCIS. If the refugee does not have USCIS documentation, biographical data received from the U.S. Department of State can serve as temporary replacement verification. (3) A child(ren) of a refugee(s) who is not a refugee(s) him or herself, including a U. S. citizen, may be eligible as long as he or she is living with a parent(s) who is a refugee(s) and not living with a parent who is not a refugee. A birth record, or third-party affidavit if a birth record is not available, shall verify relationship.