Yesterday, President Biden signed the Presidential Determination (PD), setting the refugee admissions ceiling for the fiscal year 2023 to 125,000. 

This announcement signals a commitment to supporting the US Resettlement Program and comes at a time when global resettlement needs are at a record high. Today, there are more forcibly displaced people worldwide than ever before, including approximately 31 million refugees. UNHCR has estimated that almost 1.5 million people are in urgent need of resettlement in 2022, and that number will continue to rise into 2023. 

Setting refugee admissions to 125,000 for the fiscal year 2023 reflects the government’s commitment to continue rebuilding the US Resettlement Program, and reaching at-risk refugees around the world. This commitment aligns with RefugePoint’s mission to reach refugees who fall through the cracks of humanitarian aid. We are thrilled to work in close partnership with the UN Refugee Agency and US State Department to help reach these ambitious goals. 

Over the past few months, RefugePoint has hired dozens of staff to send to new locations across Africa, our primary area of operation, and to the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, and other locations globally to assist in the resettlement of at-risk refugees, including unaccompanied minors and others in danger. Our efforts will contribute significantly to the goal of welcoming 125,000 refugees to the United States in 2023.

Sasha Chanoff, RefugePoint’s CEO, welcomed the Presidential Determination saying, “Resettlement is life-saving for those who have no other options for safe or dignified survival. This announcement enables RefugePoint to double down on its mission to find solutions for those refugees in the most perilous circumstances and to help build a more equitable resettlement program by identifying those who are often not on the global media radar. This is also a time of distinct innovation. With our recent successes, such as helping to create the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans, and building a program to reunite children with their parents, RefugePoint will remain committed to building new and enduring innovations in resettlement.”