Executive Orders signed by President Biden have put the US back on the path to
sound refugee and asylum policy.
Dear John,
It's been a good week for the future of refugee resettlement and asylum in the
United States.
On Thursday, President Biden confirmed that his administration will raise the
annual refugee admissions cap this year after consulting with Congress. That
cap, which was set at an all-time low of just 15,000 by former president Donald
Trump, will then rise to 125,000 when the next fiscal year starts in October. It
will be the highest refugee cap in more than two decades.
“President Biden has stated formally and in no uncertain terms that U.S.
humanitarian leadership is back,” said Melanie Nezer, HIAS’ senior vice
president of public affairs. “Rebuilding the resettlement system the prior
administration nearly broke won’t be easy. The refugee resettlement program must
bring people to safety, protect national security, and integrate people across
the country, all in a contentious political environment and during a global
pandemic. Despite these challenges, the president has made clear he intends to
get there. We’ll do all we can to help — and to hold the administration
accountable.”
Read HIAS’ full statement on the refugee order.
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The White House also issued an executive order Thursday evening to strengthen
the resettlement program. The administration will undertake a thorough review of
the program’s security; designate a senior White House official to coordinate
government agencies and resettlement partners; and recognize the urgent need to
develop protection options for people forced to migrate because of climate
change.
Earlier this week, President Biden signed three executive orders aimed at
repairing the damage of some of the Trump-era policies that have been most
harmful to immigrants and asylum seekers. Read HIAS' statement about those orders.
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All of us at HIAS are heartened by this week's announcements, and we look
forward to working with the Biden administration to repair and improve our
refugee and asylum systems.
HIAS is the international Jewish humanitarian organization that provides vital
services to refugees and asylum seekers in 16 countries. We advocate for the
rights of all forcibly displaced people to rebuild their lives and seek to
create a world in which they find safety, opportunity, and welcome.
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