All Refugee Flights Abruptly Halted Following New Executive Order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2025
Contact: Timothy Young | our email

Washington, D.C. – Global Refuge expresses deep concern and disappointment over the sudden suspension of refugee admissions to the United States following the Trump administration’s recent executive order.

According to a State Department memo obtained by CNN, thousands of refugees who had been cleared for admission to the United States have had their travel cancelled immediately, including those who were slated to arrive before the executive order’s effective date of January 27, 2025.

“This abrupt halt to refugee admissions is devastating for families who have already endured unimaginable persecution and waited years for the chance to rebuild their lives in safety,” said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge. “Refugees go through one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the world, and it’s heartbreaking to see their dreams of safety derailed just days before, or in some cases, just hours before they were set to begin their new lives here.”

The memo, issued to resettlement partners, states that “all previously scheduled travel of refugees to the United States is being canceled, and no new travel bookings will be made,” effectively halting the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Refugees already in the United States will continue to receive services, but all case processing and pre-departure activities for those awaiting resettlement have been suspended indefinitely.

The decision has far-reaching consequences for thousands of vulnerable individuals and families. Many refugees awaiting travel are now at risk of having their medical exams or security clearances expire, which could delay their resettlement by months or years. Others face being stranded in unsafe environments.

“This policy doesn’t just delay hope; it extinguishes it for so many who have already suffered so much,” Vignarajah added. “These families are escaping war, persecution, and violence. To slam the door shut after years of waiting, often in desperate conditions, is both cruel and contrary to the values America has long stood for.”

Global Refuge also highlighted the potential impact on international perceptions of the United States as a global leader in humanitarian aid. “This decision signals to the world that the U.S. is turning its back on U.S. law, international agreements, and the shared responsibility of addressing a global refugee crisis,” Vignarajah said.

Global Refuge calls on policymakers to reconsider this abrupt suspension and urges the administration to restore the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program as a beacon of hope and a testament to the nation’s longstanding and bipartisan commitment to humanitarian values.

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About us: 

Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. For 85 years, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, welcome and respite services for asylum seekers, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. To date, we have served over 800,000 people from around the globe. At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn’t just our duty—it’s an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values, and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge.