Refugee Congress Celebrates World Refugee Day, Calls for Restoration of Protections for Forcibly Displaced People
World Refugee Day is a global celebration of the strength, resilience, and hope of people who have experienced forced displacement. We honor them and stand alongside our communities and partners in recognizing the human value of each person seeking safety.
At the same time, this World Refugee Day is marked by record-high displacement worldwide. There are more than 120 million people who have been forced to flee their homes due to ongoing conflicts, genocide, persecution, instability, famine, and climate disasters. In the U.S., harmful and discriminatory policies based on misinformation and false narratives are threatening people who are integral members of their communities. The indefinite suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has closed a door for a majority of people seeking safety. Unlawful immigration enforcement separates families who have built new lives in our cities. Communities across the country live in fear of being returned to dangerous and life-threatening circumstances.
As an organization built and led by people with lived experience of forced displacement, Refugee Congress knows firsthand how programs like USRAP, Temporary Protected Status, Humanitarian Parole, and Asylum are life-saving for so many. We work in the heart of our communities, and we know that a majority of Americans and our elected officials support welcoming policies and want safe pathways to resettlement.
On this World Refugee Day, we take a stand in solidarity. We honor the stories of refugees, and we fully affirm our commitment to advocating for and defending the rights and well-being of all who have been forcibly displaced. We call for our national leaders to immediately restore the resettlement program and other life-saving pathways for people seeking safety, and we invite our neighbors to join us in the pledge to remain committed to welcome.
"On World Refugee Day, we remember that displacement is not a choice – it’s the result of conflict, violence, and failed policies. Many of us know this firsthand. We carry the memory of leaving everything behind, not for want—but for survival,” said S.D., Delegate for New Mexico. “We urge global leaders and communities to address the causes of displacement and welcome those seeking safety – not as a favor, but as a shared responsibility."
"To be a refugee is to carry the weight of loss and the fire of hope. On World Refugee Day, we honor both," said Sharon Njie, Delegate for Louisiana.
“As someone who has experienced life as a refugee, I carry a deep empathy for those who are forced to flee their homes. On this World Refugee Day, I reflect on the hardship, courage, and resilience of displaced people around the globe. My hope and prayer is for a world where all human beings can live in peace, safety, and dignity,” said Kumari Regmi, Delegate for Upstate New York.
"As a former refugee, I carry both the pain of displacement and the power of resilience. On World Refugee Day, I honor the strength of all who have been forced to flee, and I recommit to building communities where every refugee is seen, heard, and empowered to thrive," said Rose Mayan, Delegate for Michigan.
“World Refugee Day is a day to remember the journey required of being a refugee, and to reflect on what is going on to cause displacement – especially wars and other inhumane injustices worldwide,” said Isabel Kayembe, Delegate for Rhode Island. “I was approved to resettle in the United States 14 years ago, and I am grateful to the United States for giving me the opportunity to gain identity. But today, the suspension of the refugee resettlement program leaves other refugee families stuck, waiting and hoping for the opportunity to find safety and reunite with their families.”
"Our stories are not just about survival—they're about the strength, resilience, and hope that refugees bring to America every day. From persecution to promise, from fear to freedom, refugee voices carry the power to change hearts and minds. Will you listen and help us be heard?" said Myra Dahgaypaw, Honorary Delegate.
“World Refugee Day is a moment of recognition, but it is also a measure of will. More than 120 million people are forcibly displaced today. Across every border and crisis zone, 1 in every 66 people is a refugee. Not because the world lacks resources like talent or money, but because it lacks courage,” said Ayda Zugay, Delegate for Massachusetts. “Rather than recognition, this day calls for shared responsibility, addressing the root causes of displacement, and supporting lived leadership. Until refugees help shape the systems meant to protect them, we will continue to mistake survival for solutions.”
