Crocker Blasts Refugee Process

Crocker suggested fast-tracking security checks for Iraqis, doubling the number of interviewing officers in Jordan and continuing to push Syria to issue visas. But he also suggested what he called "real alternatives," such as allowing State Department officers to conduct interviews, arranging DHS interviews by video from Washington or allowing Iraqis who work for the U.S. Embassy to go through the process in Iraq, instead of outside the country.

In a letter to Crocker the following day, Emilio T. Gonzalez, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, wrote that the ambassador's cable "does not reflect an accurate picture of DHS's commitment or performance to date." Gonzalez disputed many of Crocker's points and blamed the State Department, which has overall responsibility for the U.S. refugee program, and its partner agents, called Overseas Processing Entities. They handle initial security screening, medical examinations, sponsorships and orientation for applicants.

"It is the OPE's capacity to prescreen the Iraqi cases . . . that has been driving the pace of the Iraqi program," Gonzalez wrote. "I can assure you categorically that USCIS has sent refugee officers to conduct every interview requested" by State.

Gonzalez acknowledged that Syria is a problem, but he said authorities have cut processing time for cases to four to six months, not the eight to 10 months cited by Crocker. Paul Rosenzweig, a DHS deputy assistant secretary for policy, also disputed the idea of a two-year backlog, saying the administration expects to be able to process 12,000 refugees next year and has ramped up operations quickly.

But progress to date has been slow. Since February, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees has referred about 10,000 Iraqis to the U.S. refugee program . The State Department, however, has admitted just 829 Iraqis this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, and officials caution that they may admit only about 1,750 by the end of the year.

Since 2003, the year of the U.S. invasion, the United States has admitted 1,521 Iraqi refugees.

A spokesman for Ellen R. Sauerbrey, the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, declined to comment on internal deliberations. In an e-mail obtained by The Washington Post, she agreed with DHS's corrections to "many errors" in Crocker's cable.

Several State Department officials said Crocker's intention was to "galvanize" Washington to meet expectations and called any mistakes "honest misunderstandings" based on his perception in the field.

"The numbers are not where we hoped they'd be," a State Department diplomat said.

Amelia Templeton, spokeswoman for Human Rights First, which provided a copy of the cable to The Post, praised Crocker's "clear-sighted analysis" of the plight faced by Iraqis whose lives are in limbo and who are running out of money, but expressed disappointment about "talk and not much substance" from the administration on refugee resettlement.

"What we've seen consistently in all of this is State trying to point to [the U.N. refugee agency] as the point of delay, DHS pointing to State -- everyone is sort of pointing fingers, and nobody is taking responsibility for getting people here in a timely fashion," she said.

In the Senate, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) will propose attaching legislation backed by a dozen lawmakers in both parties to a defense authorization bill this week; it would expand refugee and immigrant visa programs for Iraqis, including those threatened because they helped U.S. reconstruction efforts.

"Ambassador Crocker's plea for help is the latest reminder that the administration has failed to adequately address the enormity of this situation," Kennedy said in a statement, vowing to "cut through the red tape." He added, "While we can't solve the problem alone, the least we can do is our part to allow those at risk to resettle here."