While we celebrate and honor the 45th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, we recognize that recent executive orders and actions taken by the Trump administration have threatened our national legacy, endangering the lives of so many people seeking safety and even those who have already found refuge in the U.S. These targeted efforts aim to dismantle the system that protects our neighbors, and directly oppose our collective values of welcome and safety. Still, Americans have made it clear: refugees are welcome.

Refugee Congress reiterates its firm commitment to refugees, asylum seekers, and all forcibly displaced people and communities in the United States and around the world. We remain dedicated to protecting the rights of displaced people, defending the safety and well-being of those seeking safety, and creating welcoming and inclusive spaces at local, state, national and international levels.