U.S. Repatriation Program

The U.S. Repatriation Program (hereinafter Program) was established in 1935 under Section 1113 of the Social Security Act (Assistance for U.S. Citizens Returned from Foreign Countries), to provide temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and their dependents who have been identified by the Department of State as having returned, or been brought from a foreign country, to the U.S. because of destitution, illness, war, threat of war, or a similar crisis, and are without available resources. Upon arrival in the U.S., services for repatriates are the responsibility of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Secretary has delegated these responsibilities to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and later was delegated from ACF to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Temporary assistance, which is defined as cash payment, medical care (including counseling), temporary billeting (e.g. shelter), transportation, and other goods and services necessary for the health or welfare of individuals is given to eligible repatriates in the form of a service loan and must be repaid to the U.S. Government. Temporary assistance is available to repatriates for up-to 90 days and might be extended by ORR if the circumstances involved necessitate or justify the furnishing of such assistance (42 U.S.C. § 1313). A case can be closed prior to reaching the 90 day upon finding that the eligible individual has resources available to meet his/her immediate needs. Once a case is closed, ORR through its arrangements with the Program Support Center begins collection of the amount associated to the services provided to the eligible repatriate. As established in Program regulations, repatriates can apply for a waiver or deferral of their repatriation loan which is approved on a case by case basis by ORR.