U.S. Repatriation Program

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.