Presidential Determination: President Biden Signs US Commitment to Refugee Resettlement, Sets Goal to Admit 125,000 Refugees in Fiscal Year 2025
On September 30th, President Biden signed the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025, setting a goal of admitting up to 125,000 refugees to the United States over the next year.
“I am deeply grateful for President Biden’s signing of the Presidential Determination for 125,000 Refugee Admissions for FY2025. This is a powerful step toward providing safety, opportunity, and hope for those seeking refuge in our great nation,” said Ruremesha Alimas Hussein, Delegate for Northern California.
“We applaud the Biden administration for setting the Presidential Determination (PD) ceiling for 2025 at 125,000. Together, our goal should be to ensure a safe haven for refugees and displaced people around the world, with America continuing to lead the way in this vital effort,” said Tshishiku Henry, Delegate for Washington.
This fiscal year, the US resettled 100,000 refugees thanks to significant programmatic innovations, including the Welcome Corps which enables private citizens and community groups to sponsor refugees. While Refugee Congress celebrates this renewed commitment to welcoming refugees and those seeking safety, we also recognize the need for continued investments and strengthening of the resettlement system, with a special emphasis on domestic capacity.
“The Biden Administration has revived hope in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, setting a Presidential Determination of 125,000 refugees for FY2025,” said Lourena Gboeah, Chair of the Board of Directors. “While rebuilding the USRAP has been a challenging process, it underscores the Administration's commitment to making America a safe refuge and recognizing the invaluable contributions that refugees bring to the nation.”
"This decision shows commitment to helping those fleeing persecution and violence. By welcoming these refugees, we uphold our humanitarian values and enrich our communities with their resilience, skills, and diverse perspectives. We must keep improving and expanding our admission system to help more refugees find a new home and start a new life in the United States,” said Luis Mejia, Delegate for New York City.
Refugee Congress is dedicated to supporting solutions and efforts aimed at strengthening USRAP and other programs that promote our shared values of welcoming refugees and forcibly displaced people. We remain committed to ensuring that the expertise and perspectives of communities and individuals who are directly impacted are central to the conversations and decisions that shape our policies.
“With open hearts and a shared responsibility, we are eager to welcome 125,000 new stories of hope, resilience, and opportunity—together, we build a stronger tomorrow,” said Sara Deewa, Delegate for New Mexico.
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Media Contact: Sheridan Block, sheridan.block@refugeecongress.org
Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.
