Refugee Congress Applauds Biden’s Proposed Refugee Admissions Goal for FY22
Refugee Congress Applauds Biden’s Proposed Refugee Admissions Goal for FY22
For immediate release: September 22, 2021
WASHINGTON–Refugee Congress applauds President Biden’s proposal to increase refugee admissions to 125,000 individuals for Fiscal Year 2022, a strong step towards restoring the refugee resettlement program, which fell to the historic low level of just 15,000 refugee admissions under the previous administration.
As the crisis continues to unfold in Afghanistan and humanitarian needs continue to increase for at-risk Afghans and others across the globe, we encourage the Biden administration to consider a further step towards a refugee admissions goal of 200,000.
“The proposed refugee admission goal is the first of several concrete actions that must be taken to embrace our nation’s tradition of welcome and uphold our moral obligation to welcome all those seeking refuge, safety and protection,” said Nili Sarit Yossinger, Refugee Congress Executive Director. “While we welcome this important step, we are in the midst of the largest displacement crisis in history, and the U.S. must lead by example. We urge Congress to ensure that this refugee admissions goal is met with the funding levels that are necessary to meet the needs of people who are arriving.”
There are more than 82 million people worldwide who were forcibly displaced, including 20.7 million refugees and at least 4.1 million asylum-seekers.
“The international refugee crisis is dire and continues to escalate. Refugee lives are hanging in the balance, as they're experiencing unspeakable violence, oppression and danger,” said Nga Vương-Sandoval, Refugee Congress Delegate for Colorado. “Extraordinary situations call for extraordinary action. Now is the time for the U.S. to expand the annual refugee admissions goal to 200,000. It’s the humanitarian and moral action to take for the world’s most vulnerable population.”
Each year, the president consults with Congress and then sets a refugee admissions goal, also known as the Presidential Determination. President Biden raised the Presidential Determination from just 15,000 set under President Trump to 62,500 mid-year during Fiscal Year 2021.
“As a former refugee who has gone through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program, I know firsthand how vital this program is. It saves lives, and during a pivotal moment in history, where we are seeing thousands of people displaced, the U.S. must welcome those seeking refuge. While we know there is a lot more work that needs to be done, we are grateful that the Biden administration has taken the first step in setting the refugee admissions to 125,000 for Fiscal Year 2022,” said Nejra Sumic, Refugee Delegate for Arizona.
As former resettled refugees and asylees, we know firsthand what it’s like to wait in a refugee camp, hoping for a promise fulfilled. Biden's decision is hope for many people like us, fleeing violence and persecution, who are waiting to be resettled with their lives at risk. Welcoming refugees is the right thing to do -- not only on humanitarian grounds but also for the betterment of our communities and economy.
“We applaud this administration's move towards upholding this nation's moral obligation to welcome. However, this is only the first step. As crises continue to unfold from Afghanistan to Ethiopia to other countries around the globe, we urge the president to further expand the refugee admission goal to 200,000 and invest in rebuilding a robust refugee resettlement program. We are a nation of refuge, and we cannot turn our backs on those who are looking for safety, refuge and protection,” said Dagmawit Kebede, Communications and Advocacy Associate for Refugee Congress.
Despite this critical step towards restoring welcome, Refugee Congress remains deeply concerned about the deportation of people from Haiti seeking refuge.
“The expulsion of Haitian asylum-seekers is heartbreaking, disturbing and a return to the immoral leadership we experienced in the past four years,” said Dauda Sesay, Vice Chair of the Refugee Congress Board of Directors and Honorary Delegate for Louisiana. “President Biden promised to restore our nation’s commitment to welcome and protect individuals and families seeking refuge. I urge President Biden to keep his promise, quickly stop the inhumane expulsion of Haitians and restore compassion and dignity to the asylum program.”
We call on the Biden administration to stop deportation flights to Haiti and put an end to the violent treatment of Haitians seeking asylum as was seen in recent images from Texas. President Biden must work to dismantle the Trump administration’s discriminatory and immoral policies to allow those who are seeking refuge the right to claim asylum and move towards welcoming with dignity.
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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants 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.
MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 905-6238, media@refugeecongress.org
