New York, NY, January 21, 2025 — The Trump Administration announced last night that it will suspend refugee resettlement to America. This program has existed since the 1980 Refugee Act and currently offers over 100,000 security-vetted refugees from around the world the chance to start a new life in America. The IRC works in 40 cities across the country to support refugees as they integrate into American life and become contributing members of their communities.
The IRC believes this suspension is a step backward for America. The US Refugee Admissions Program operates as a public-private partnership and has historically been a bipartisan initiative: more refugees were admitted under President Reagan than under any other president. The program offers some of the most vulnerable refugees in the world, including those who have supported US national security interests overseas, a route to safety. They are vetted by over a dozen federal security agencies via a years-long process. Evidence shows that resettled refugees contribute to local economies by supporting local businesses, and reducing refugee numbers will have an adverse impact on the American economy.
David Miliband, IRC President and CEO said: “America has a proud tradition of welcoming those who are persecuted or otherwise in danger. The refugee resettlement program is a proven, orderly, cost-effective way of offering life-saving protection to some of the most vulnerable people in the world. This country has been a leader in refugee resettlement. The beneficiaries are not just those who come here; it is also the communities to which they contribute. America has always been a beacon for those seeking haven and this decision is a backward step for refugees and for America.”
The IRC urges the administration to grant case-by-case exemptions permitted by the order and to undertake a prompt, evidence-based assessment, required under the order, to resume this vital program. At a time when there are record numbers of refugees around the world and multiple challenges to fix the asylum system, there is no justification for ending the most established, secure, and effective program to offer a route to safety. If the resettlement program is not restored, political dissidents, religious minorities, and the most vulnerable victims of war and disaster will pay the price, and so will America.