Issa Spatrisano: Alaska State Refugee Coordinator

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Alaska State Refugee Coordinator Issa Spatrisano does her work through Catholic Social Services' Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS), which is the resettlement agency for the state of Alaska. RAIS connects newly arrived refugees with housing, jobs, and other services that weave them into the Alaska community. 

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her home because of war, violence or persecution, often without warning. They are unable to return home due to unsafe conditions in their native land.

Those who obtain refugee status are given protections under both international and US federal law. 

An asylum seeker is someone who is also seeking international protection from dangers in his or her home country, but whose claim for refugee status hasn’t yet been determined legally. Asylum seekers apply for protection in the country of destination. Until an asylum seeker has attained the correct status they may not be able to access refugee services.

In most cases to qualify for help from RAIS a person must have federal refugee status.

There are many more folks (immigrants, migrants, & others) who need assistance than qualify for it.

Today we are primarily talking about folks with refugee status. But as you will hear the terminology is challenging because Alaska has had a recent influx of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees who have a different status (humanitarian parole). What will happen to them during the Trump administration is up in the air.

To listen to the recent podcast episode with Alaska Literacy Program's outgoing and incoming executive directors Lori Pickett and Deepika Ramesh Perumal, click here.

This is an edited version of the original episode. Please email [e-mail] or call 907-269-0123 for a link to the complete version.