Before the Refugee Act of 1980, refugee resettlement in the U.S. was largely conducted privately or through community groups. The act standardized the process and today most refugees in the U.S. are primarily welcomed through resettlement agencies, such as the International Rescue Committee.

For nearly 40 years the United States resettlement program has been the best in the world, providing safety and opportunity to millions of refugees. But in his first week in office President Donald Trump signed an executive order that threatens to pull back the welcome mat.

In this Rescue Facts, IRC humanitarian Tracy Reines shares how cutting refugee resettlement will cost the United States in the long run. The Trump Administration’s own report showed that, over a decade, refugees generated over $63 billion more in revenue for federal, state and local governments than the U.S. actually spent on welcoming them. Learn how you can help.

This Iranian refugee family was approved for resettlement in Seattle on June 12, 2017, but because of the United States travel ban, the family's flights were canceled three times. While two family members were able to resettle to the U.S. this year with the support of the International Rescue Committee, the rest of their relatives remain in Turkey where they will restart the painstaking resettlement process from scratch.