Refugee Congress Urges Immediate Congressional Action to Restore Refugee Admissions Goal to Historic Norms and Prioritize Welcoming the Most Vulnerable

November 13, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – ​​As the federal government reopens after the longest shutdown in our nation’s history, Refugee Congress implores members of Congress to immediately, and in good faith, consult with the administration on the Presidential Determination on refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2026.

In a moment when more than 123 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced from their homes, the administration’s announced refugee admissions goal of 7,500 is an abdication of the United States’ moral and humanitarian commitments, both in the low number of admissions, and in the discriminatory intent of its population priorities.

As refugees, many of us have witnessed firsthand the erosion of legal norms and humanitarian values in the countries we first called home. We refuse to let leaders elected to serve the American people act with impunity and without regard for the will of the people.

For decades, the refugee resettlement program has been a lifeline for people seeking safety, and a proud bipartisan effort to welcome new neighbors and build strong, prosperous communities together. 

We are calling on members of Congress, who have both the power and the responsibility, to take immediate action to restore U.S. refugee resettlement and urge the administration to change course and raise the refugee admissions goal to 125,000; tens of thousands of lives depend on it. 

For decades, this vital program has enjoyed the support of leaders across the aisle and community members in every corner of the nation. Together, we can and must rise to meet the needs of refugees and the communities poised to welcome them.

Refugees are much more than numbers. We have families, and careers, and dreams, and hobbies. This country welcomed us, and that generosity has changed the trajectory of our lives and reshaped the fabric of the places we now call home. We will not let the door slam on others who are waiting for safety.

Media Contact:

Jen Lee Reeves media@refugeecongress.org

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