The Refugee Act of 1980, Pub. L. No. 96-212, 8 U.S.C. 1522, amended the Immigration and Nationality Act to create a domestic refugee resettlement program that provides assistance and services to refugees resettling in the United States. With the enactment of this legislation, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) established comprehensive requirements for a State-administered refugee resettlement program including child welfare services to unaccompanied refugee minors. The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program currently operates in 14 states and the District of Columbia and provides the same range of child welfare benefits and services available to other foster children in those states as well as services required by ORR regulation and policy guidance.
Originally, the URM Program provided services for refugee minors arriving from overseas unaccompanied by a parent or adult relative. Over the years Congress passed laws making other special populations already in the United States eligible for the URM Program. A completed URM Program Application must be submitted to ORR for eligibility determination, initiation of placement efforts, and approval to enter the URM Program.
In January 2025, the current Administration released multiple Executive Orders (EO) and memoranda requiring updates to information collections that request gender and/or gender identity, to only request âSexâ with the options Male/Female. Additionally, presidential actions focused on the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-specific activities. To be responsive to the new administration, ACF is submitting change requests for a number of implicated information collections. This request is specific to updates related to a recent presidential action, as detailed in the accompanying Justification for a NonSubstantive Change Memo.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Withdrawal of Application or Declination of Placement Form