The modern-day US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has effectively ended following the Trump administration’s recent termination of contracts with resettlement agencies and the dismantling of USRAP infrastructure both domestically and abroad.
RefugePoint mourns the loss of this vital tool of American diplomacy and human rights, which has long served to protect refugees, strengthen American communities, and advance US foreign policy interests.
Refugee Council USA, a coalition of refugee advocacy organizations that includes RefugePoint, stated that these contract terminations mark the “de facto death of the 45-year-old US Refugee Admissions Program as we know it.”
Since its inception in 1980, USRAP has been a bipartisan institution supported by both Republican and Democratic presidents. It provides a legal pathway for refugees to come to the US, following a process in which they are carefully selected, approved by well-trained Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Citizenship and Immigration officials, and extensively vetted by US national security agencies before traveling. Over the past 45 years, more than three million people have been resettled through this program.
During President Biden’s administration, 222,829 refugees arrived through the program, while approximately 87,000 were resettled during the first term of the Trump administration. Refugees make up a small fraction of overall immigration to the US. As part of this planned legal pathway, refugees receive support to help them integrate, coordinated by the agencies whose Reception and Placement contracts have now been terminated. In recent years, the Welcome Corps initiative, a new dimension of the USRAP, has expanded support for refugees by allowing Americans to form sponsor groups that play a critical role in their integration. The Welcome Corps has been suspended along with USRAP, and RefugePoint urges the administration to renew the life-saving program after its initial 90-day suspension.
The termination of support services in the US, coupled with the cessation of overseas processing and the cancellation of all refugee travel, has resulted in significant hardship. More than 30,000 refugees who arrived in the US in the months leading up to the Trump administration have lost access to essential services. Tens of thousands more remain in limbo overseas, including 1,600 Afghan allies who had been approved by DHS but had their flights canceled at the last minute.
The US Refugee Admissions Program has been a cornerstone of American society. The US Department of Health and Human Services conducted a study that found that over 15 years, refugees and asylees contributed $123.8 billion more to the economy than they received in services. Data consistently highlights their positive contributions to the communities where they resettle—refugees often remain in jobs longer than others, add valuable skills and experience to the workforce, start businesses, and play an essential role in strengthening local economies. Moreover, refugees become our fellow neighbors and community members. Their participation in the social, cultural, and civic life of their communities adds to and enriches the contributions they make economically.
Since 2005, RefugePoint has worked closely with US administrations to support the USRAP. We have operated in 83 countries and helped 179,384 refugees access resettlement and other legal pathways to the US and other countries. Having contributed to and seen the benefits of this life-saving program, for both individuals and US communities, RefugePoint calls on the administration to reverse the Executive Orders that have put a hold on refugee resettlement.
Despite the cessation of resettlement to the US, RefugePoint’s overseas efforts continue to assist refugees facing life-threatening circumstances, helping them safely relocate to countries whose doors remain open to people seeking freedom from harm and the chance to rebuild their lives through resettlement.
RefugePoint remains committed to expanding refugees’ access to long-term solutions. In addition to our ongoing resettlement efforts, we continue to support refugees with other pathways to safety, such as family reunification and labor mobility. We also continue to support refugees through self-reliance programs in the countries where they live. These programs focus on providing refugees with sustainable livelihoods, healthcare, education, and other essential services that empower them to rebuild their lives with dignity. By fostering economic independence and community integration, RefugePoint helps refugees achieve long-term stability and security, even in the absence of resettlement opportunities.