“Once again we remind the Trump administration that programs like CHNV humanitarian parole are successful, effective, legal, and lifesaving and must therefore be protected and expanded. We cannot continue to turn our backs on people in need, and shut the door on our most vulnerable neighbors and their families,” said Nili Sarit Yossinger, Executive Director. “Refugee Congress will continue to advocate for all forcibly displaced people, across all statuses. We need our elected leaders to stand for our collective values — to reject policies that separate families and deport neighbors who have helped rebuild our communities, and to instead embrace policies that welcome newcomers in safe and lawful ways.”

“Unlawfully detaining and forcibly removing people without due process is a dangerous assault on fundamental rights that puts everyone at risk—not just those seeking refuge, but every person who calls the U.S. home,” said Nili Sarit Yossinger, Executive Director. “The Trump administration is bent on tearing families apart, destabilizing entire communities, and dismantling the very ideals of welcome and safety that define us as a nation. When longtime residents—and even U.S. citizens—are wrongfully detained or deported, it sends a chilling message that no one is safe. Our elected leaders must act immediately to stop these violations, defend due process, and uphold human dignity before more lives are devastated.”

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 strongly denounces the administration’s decision to irresponsibly cut funding and critical support systems that millions of vulnerable populations around the world rely on. The United States has been a global leader in providing lifesaving care for people all over the world, and Americans have demonstrated an eagerness and commitment to welcome people seeking safety. These actions by the Trump administration go directly against the values and character that has historically made the United States a respected leader in humanitarian aid.

Refugee Congress celebrates the court ruling blocking the Trump administration’s refugee ban executive order. 

On Tuesday, federal judge Jamal Whitehead ruled that the executive order that indefinitely suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and withheld critical funding for refugee resettlement services was unlawful.

Refugee Congress condemns the Trump administration’s actions this month terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Venezuelans. These efforts to target communities that have arrived through legal pathways put hundreds of thousands of individuals and families in dangerous and uncertain circumstances.

Refugee Congress is extremely concerned about the safety and protection of civilians and forcibly displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as armed conflict between the national military and the militia group M23 escalated over the weekend.

Refugee Congress understands firsthand the benefit and importance of these resources. Each of our members has direct experience of forced displacement. We were forced to leave our homes, we found safety in the United States, and because of the welcome we’ve received, we are motivated to continue to give back and support the well-being of our new communities. Refugees contributed more than $123.8 billion to the U.S. economy, of which wouldn’t have been possible without the support received upon arrival.

As leaders who have experienced forced displacement and some who have been separated from families, Refugee Congress denounces not only the indefinite ban on refugee admissions, but also the betrayal of trust and hope for those who were initially approved for arrival and resettlement before the executive order’s effective date. Not only does this action betray American values of welcome, but it also undermines the integrity of American leadership as a nation committed to protecting our most vulnerable neighbors.

As an organization led by people who built a new life here in the U.S., we know firsthand that welcoming refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants, and newcomers makes America safer and stronger. Refugee Congress strongly condemns this unnecessary and inhumane targeting of our neighbors, and we remain dedicated to advocating for the rights, safety, and dignity of all who have been forcibly displaced and who seek safety in the United States.

“Today, we watch a transition of leadership that was borne out of a democratic process but is also a reminder of the fragility of democracy, when not upheld and protected. We must honor this day, and honor Dr. King by standing by our neighbors, welcoming those who seek refuge, and protecting the rights of our most vulnerable community members.”

Refugee Congress urges the Committee to reject any proposal to reinstate the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico (RMX)” policy - a policy that has proven to be unlawful, ineffective, and dangerous for our most vulnerable neighbors - and to instead affirm the need to invest in local communities’ capacity and resources to welcome newcomers, and to support compassionate and humane immigration and reception pathways and systems that do not turn away - or - punish seeking safety.

Refugee Congress is tremendously disappointed and strongly condemns the Biden Administration’s decision to play into political motivations and fear-based rhetoric, rather than focusing on humane, equitable, and effective solutions for our border. This order directly contradicts the President’s campaign promises to restore protections for those seeking safety in the US, and instead embraces the very anti-immigration policies the administration vowed to defeat.

Refugee Congress is deeply alarmed by Senate’s proposed bill that permanently uproots and dismantles US asylum laws and endangers the lives of many families and individuals seeking safety at the border.

Refugee Congress Urges Senators to Protect Asylum System

The US Refugee Advisory Board (USRAB) is honored to welcome seven new advisors whose combined lived experiences and professional expertise will provide invaluable perspective to USRAB’s governmental, NGO, and multilateral partners.