The results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election are in with Donald Trump as the next President of the United States, with his term beginning on January 20, 2025. At the International Rescue Committee (IRC), we call on the Trump administration to continue America’s traditions of humanitarian leadership and care for the most vulnerable. 

The IRC strongly encourages elected officials to collaborate with civil society groups to strengthen protection and asylum systems. Upholding the dignity and rights of displaced individuals is vital, especially as we reaffirm America’s long-standing bipartisan commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers.

The IRC is committed to prioritizing our clients and delivering essential services whenever and wherever they are needed, regardless of the challenges that arise. Currently, nearly 300 million people worldwide are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. This includes millions who have been forced to flee due to conflict or disaster, with over 120 million people displaced and 50 million currently outside their home countries. 

A nine year old girl sits at a table in a shelter in Juárez, Mexico. Her mother cooks food in the background.
Nine-year-old Ashley* waits for her mother, Maria, to serve food at an IRC-supported shelter in Juárez, Mexico. After being forced to flee their home in Honduras due to gang extortion, the mother and daughter traveled for months to seek asylum in the U.S. before being turned away at the southern border under Title 42.
Photo: Paul Ratje for the IRC

How you can help refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants

Supporting refugees and asylum seekers is not just a charitable act—it's a lifesaving opportunity that extends our humanity. These individuals are more than just figures in distress; they are parents, children and neighbors seeking the same stability and peace that we all cherish. By understanding their plight and responding with compassion, we can extend a lifeline that fosters hope and resilience. 

We hope you recognize that your contributions to refugee and displaced families serve as a significant force for good.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate to trusted organizations

Financial contributions are key for trusted organizations like the IRC, which deliver essential services such as healthcare, education and emergency relief. The IRC plays a critical role in assisting individuals affected by humanitarian crises, including refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, by helping them survive, recover and rebuild their lives. 

Your donation can help empower refugees and asylum seekers toward self-sufficiency.

Advocate for policy change

Policy changes at the local, national and international levels can profoundly impact the lives of displaced people. Support refugee-friendly policies by contacting elected officials, raising awareness on social media and joining advocacy groups to amplify the call for change.

With more than 120 million displaced worldwide, the U.S. must stand firm in its bipartisan commitment to welcome and maintain resettlement infrastructure.

Take action with the IRC.

Yuliia, 39, stands in medical scrubs at the Grossmont Health Occupations Center, where she works as a general assistant.
Yuliia and her family were resettled by the IRC after they were forced to flee their home in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Yuliia is working to continue her occupation as a dentist in the U.S. and is currently practicing as a registered dental assistant.
Photo: Ariana Drehsler for the IRC

Volunteer your time and skills

Volunteers and interns are vital to the IRC's mission of delivering high-quality, comprehensive immigration services to refugees and immigrants. Across the U.S., IRC offices offer a diverse range of volunteer and internship opportunities year-round, including support for English as a Second Language (ESL) and civics classes.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities and internships.

Educate yourself and others

The legal right to seek asylum in the U.S. is a human right and a critical lifeline for those fleeing persecution or violence. However, policies implemented by the Trump and Biden administrations over the last eight years have created significant barriers to accessing this legal right. Deterrence policies, like Title 42 and the “Asylum Ban”, have not only violated U.S. and international law but have also pushed people into dangerous situations, with over 13,000 documented cases of violence against those expelled to Mexico under Title 42. 

Refugee resettlement offers a safe and lasting solution for individuals forced to flee due to war, persecution and disaster. The U.S. has been a global leader in this effort, admitting over 3.2 million refugees since the 1980 Refugee Act, with support from both Democratic and Republican leaders. This initiative has saved countless lives and significantly boosted the U.S. economy, contributing a net positive impact of $124 billion from 2005 to 2019.

Understanding the complexities of displacement is key to meaningful advocacy. Visit our U.S. Election hub to learn how incoming officials can shape the nation’s direction on these key issues.

Get connected by following our Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and X accounts.

Regardless of who is in office, the commitment to support refugees and asylum seekers is a shared human responsibility. By donating, advocating, volunteering, educating and supporting economic empowerment, each one of us can contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive world.

How does the IRC support refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants?

With 29 offices across the United States, we provide critical support to newly arrived refugees through immediate aid, integration services and employment assistance. Besides helping resettle refugees, we offer support asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border by providing emergency shelter, legal assistance and access to healthcare.

In 2023 alone, the IRC successfully resettled over 12,500 individuals and assisted nearly 50,000 people through our U.S. Asylum and Crossborder programs, offering humanitarian reception, case management and related services.

The IRC remains steadfast in our work–no matter the challenge–to put our clients first and to serve them where and when they need us most.

*Last name omitted for privacy