From 2006-2007, the United States has accepted about 15,000 Burmese refugees, the single largest refugee population arriving in the United States.

The United States will accept another 15,000 by September, the end of the fiscal year. In comparison, about 5,500 Burmese refugees arrived between 2000-2006, according to U.S. State Department data. The U.S. waived restrictions on resettlement of Burmese refugees in 2006.

The majority of arrivals are ethnic minorities from Thai refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border and Malaysia. More than half are Karen; the rest include Chin, Kachin and Karenni ethnic minorities.

Burmese refugees are one the largest ``stateless'' populations in the world — at about 670,000 people — because no country recognizes them as citizens.

A large wave of ethnic minorities fled Burma beginning in 1984 to escape the military government. They fled to Thailand, Malaysia and elsewhere.

Many recent arrivals were born in refugee camps or have spent an entire generation — about 25 years — there.

 

Sources: U.S. State Department and the United Nations High Council on Refugees. Years refer to federal fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.