FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2025
Contact: Timothy Young | timothy.young@globalrefuge.org
Washington, D.C. – In a move echoing its first term in office, the newly inaugurated Trump administration today issued an executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), effectively halting the resettlement of tens of thousands of refugees seeking safety in the United States. The suspension is to take effect on January 27, 2025 and requires a report to be submitted to the President within 90 days “regarding whether resumption of entry of refugees into the United States” would be in the national interest.
In 2017, the program was similarly suspended, leaving thousands of refugees stranded in precarious conditions, including many seeking to reunite with family members already in the U.S. In the years that followed, the number of refugees admitted through the program was reduced to historic lows.
Global Refuge, one of the nation’s oldest and largest refugee resettlement nonprofits, expressed profound concern over today’s suspension of the USRAP.
“The refugee program is not just a humanitarian lifeline through which the U.S. has shown global leadership. It represents the gold standard of legal immigration pathways in terms of security screening, community coordination, and mutual economic benefit,” said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge. “Refugees undergo rigorous vetting, including multiple background checks by national security agencies, before ever setting foot on American soil. Their integration is coordinated through close collaboration between federal agencies, local stakeholders, and nonprofit organizations, including many faith-based groups, positioning them to quickly become vital contributors to their new communities. The US Refugee Admissions Program was designed and ameliorated over four decades precisely to address the concerns used to suspend it today.”
The suspension raises concerns for refugees, their families, and local U.S. communities alike. Notably, multiple Department of Health and Human Services studies indicate that refugees contribute billions more in tax dollars than they receive. Refugee resettlement has always been a sound investment, which is why Republican and Democratic administrations alike have long supported it.
“The policy implications are not abstract by any means,” added Vignarajah. “Persecuted people who have patiently waited for their chance at protection are poised to languish in legal limbo. Family reunifications are likely to be delayed for the foreseeable future, if not derailed entirely. Employers will lose access to a key talent pool they desperately need amid nationwide labor shortages. And communities that have come to rely on newcomers for revitalizing their economies and tax bases face impactful economic loss.”
Vignarajah also called attention to the broader implications for America’s global leadership. “The U.S. has long been a beacon of hope, leading the world in refugee resettlement. While no country alone can address an unprecedented global displacement crisis, this decision signals to other nations that they too can step back from our shared humanitarian obligations.”
Despite the challenging environment, Global Refuge remains committed to assisting refugees through employment assistance, including job training, educational empowerment, and other forms of support for those seeking safety and belonging.
“This mission has never been about politics; it’s about people,” concluded Vignarajah. “For over 40 years, the refugee program has had bipartisan support in living up to our nation’s humanitarian values, reuniting families, and bolstering our economy within an orderly, efficient, and compassionate legal framework. We strongly urge the White House to reconsider this executive action.”
##
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.
