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Demographic and Arrival Statistics
While there are no precise figures available, it is estimated that, since the mid-1970s, Pennsylvania has become home to between 90,000 and 100,000 refugees, most of whom are now United States citizens.
Since October 1, 1991, refugees from over thirty countries have resettled in the Commonwealth, representing diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. The Cumulative Arrival figures presented here include refugees per se, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Amerasian immigrants and Kurdish asylees initially resettled in Pennsylvania. Not included are other asylees, and refugees initially resettled in other states.
Most refugee resettlement entails reunification of family members and/or planned placement in regions where there are good prospects for rapid employment and sufficient support services to facilitate adjustment to life in the United States. As a result, various refugee populations tend to be resettled by Voluntary Agencies (Volags) in specific areas of the Commonwealth, for example, Sudanese in Erie, Bosnians in Pittsburgh, Soviet-born Evangelical Christians in State College, Cubans in Lancaster, and Liberians in Philadelphia. Such patterns are represented in the statistics for Arrivals by County.
Over time, the numbers of arrivals from particular countries have varied in response to historical events and United States refugee admissions policy. Thus, the flow of Jews from the Former Soviet Union has declined significantly since 1998. Refugee arrivals from Vietnam, although in decline since the mid-1980s, have seen a slight rise in recent years due to the Federal Government's efforts to close out the program and resolve many cases which have been pending for years. Conversely, a recent shift in policy in regard to the admission of refugees from Africa has resulted in the dramatic rise in numbers from Liberia and the prospective arrival of many more from Sierra Leone and Sudan. Such trends are evidenced in the Commonwealth's Arrivals by Percentage of Total Caseload.
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