Technical note: President Barak Obama's $20 million for Gaza refugees not
for
bringing them to USA
Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 20 February 2009

On January 27, President Barak Obama signed an presidential order for $20
million to be contributed to international bodies to help Palestinian
refugees
located in the Gaza Strip.

Previous presidential orders using almost identical language directed U.S.
funds to international agencies helping refugees in other parts of the
world.

The assistance for Gaza refugees has absolutely nothing to do with aiding
the immigration of refugees to the U.S. If anything, the criticism of the
UN body dealing with Palestinian refugees is that it seeks perpetuate their
refugee status.

Here is the text of the presidential order:
www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/relief_for_gaza/

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
­
For Immediate Release February 2, 2009
January 27, 2009
Presidential Determination

No. 2009-15

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration

Needs Related to Gaza

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United
States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance
Act of 1962 (the "Act"), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine,
pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national
interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed
$20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration
Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and
migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental,
and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of
the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of
State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict
victims in Gaza.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.

BARACK OBAMA

=====

This is 22 U.S.C. 2601:
http://vlex.com/vid/sec-refugees-and-migration-19203784

(a) United States membership in International Organization for Migration;
contributions to Organization (1) The President is authorized to continue
membership for the United States in the International Organization for
Migration in accordance with the constitution of such organization approved
in Venice, Italy, on October 19, 1953, as amended in Geneva, Switzerland, on
November 24, 1998, upon entry into force of such amendments. (2) For the
purpose of assisting in the movement of refugees and migrants, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the President such amounts as may be
necessary from time to time for payment by the United States of its
contributions to the International Organization for Migration and all
necessary salaries and expenses incidental to United States participation in
such organization.

(b) Appropriations for assistance to refugees There are authorized to be
appropriated such amounts as may be necessary from time to time - (1) for
contributions to the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees for assistance to refugees under his mandate or persons on behalf
of whom he is exercising his good offices, and for contributions to the
International Organization for Migration, the International Committee of the
Red Cross, and to other relevant international organizations; and (2) for
assistance to or on behalf of refugees who are outside the United States
designated by the President (by class, group, or designation of their
respective countries of origin or areas of residence) when the President
determines that such assistance will contribute to the foreign policy
interests of the United States.

(c) United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund;
appropriations (1) Whenever the President determines it to be important to
the national interest he is authorized to furnish on such terms and
conditions as he may determine assistance under this chapter for the purpose
of meeting unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs. (2) There is
established a United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund
to carry out the purposes of this section.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the President from time to time
such amounts as may be necessary for the fund to carry out the purposes of
this section, except that no amount of funds may be appropriated which, when
added to amounts previously appropriated but not yet obligated, would cause
such amounts to exceed $100,000,000. Amounts appropriated hereunder shall
remain available until expended. (3) Whenever the President requests
appropriations pursuant to this authorization he shall justify such requests
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and to the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, as well as to the Committees on
Appropriations. (d) Information to Congressional committees The President
shall keep the appropriate committees of Congress currently informed of the
use of funds and the exercise of functions authorized in this chapter. (e)
Continued availability of certain funds Unexpended balances of funds made
available under authority of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended,
and of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, [22 U.S.C. 2151 et
seq.], and allocated or transferred for the purposes of sections 405(a),
405(c), 405(d) and 451(c) (!1) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as
amended [22 U.S.C. 1925(a), (c), (d), 1951(c)], are authorized to be
continued available for the purposes of this section and may be consolidated
with appropriations authorized by this section. (f) Restrictions on foreign
assistance not applicable to migration and refugee assistance The President
may furnish assistance and make contributions under this chapter
notwithstanding any provision of law which restricts assistance to foreign
countries.