RefugePoint

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.

 

 

There are many different circumstances that cause people around the world to flee their homes and seek safety elsewhere. In the complex landscape of immigration, terms like refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion and misunderstanding. While they all share the common goal of finding a new home in a new land, the various types of migrants are distinct, and each is potentially able to access different pathways to achieve their aspirations and goals. 

 

Migrants

The term “migrant” technically just means a person who moves from one place to another for any reason, though it is increasingly used colloquially as short-hand for “economic migrant”—a person who moves primarily to seek better economic opportunities and quality of life. It’s helpful to keep the terminology straight, distinguishing between voluntary migrants and forced migrants. Refugees and asylum seekers are considered forced migrants, involuntarily leaving their homes. 

The challenge of any country’s immigration system is to carefully distinguish between voluntary and forced migrants as this determines eligibility for certain pathways to entry, legal protections under international and domestic law, and benefits. Given complex push factors and the large numbers of people on the move, it can be very challenging to make efficient and accurate status determinations for the various types of migrants. Economic motivations alone do not necessarily distinguish economic migrants from refugees, as they can be a symptom of persecution on one of the protection grounds (race, religion, ethnicity, political opinion, etc.), as certain minorities are barred from economic opportunities in some countries. 

In the context of United States immigration, voluntary migrants may be eligible to enter through legal channels such as employment-, study-, or family-based visas, or they may enter “unlawfully” and face potential deportation.

 

Refugees

Refugees are forced migrants who have fled their home country to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and have sought safety in another country (UNHCR). The country to which the refugee has fled is commonly referred to as the host country or country of temporary asylum. “Refugee” is a legally recognized status that affords individuals certain protections while they seek permanent solutions, but can also come with many restrictions. Many refugees spend 20 or more years living in their host country, where they are often unable to legally work, own property, or move freely. In most temporary host countries,  children born to refugees living there are not granted citizenship but are also  considered refugees (with derivative status from their parents) or are considered “stateless.”

Unfortunately, most refugees are unable to return to their home country in the near term, if ever. When they can’t, they hope to either legally integrate into the host country (which is also often not possible), or find a pathway to another country (often referred to as a third country), where they can safely build a new life for themselves and their families. Many aspire to come to the United States. 

Of the 43.7 million refugees across the globe, a very small percentage come to the United States (see the FAQ section below for data). The refugees who are approved to resettle to the U.S. undergo a rigorous vetting process including background and medical checks. They are granted refugee status prior to entering the country, so that upon entry, they immediately have legal rights and are on track to become permanent residents and eventually citizens, allowing them to rebuild their lives in safety and with dignity.

 

Read more about how RefugePoint partners with refugees to find lasting, life-changing solutions.

 

Asylum Seekers

Asylum seekers are similar to refugees in that they, too, flee their home countries and seek safety in a foreign land. However, unlike refugees, whose status has been determined prior to entering the country, asylum seekers request asylum after arriving in the country. They present themselves to immigration authorities and undergo a screening process that determines whether they will be allowed to stay. 

The screening process and legal frameworks for asylum seekers vary by country. If granted asylum, they are typically afforded similar rights and protections as refugees, which in the United States includes the opportunity to work, go to school, rebuild their lives, and eventually naturalize as citizens.

While refugees and asylum seekers often face prejudice and stigma in the United States, they have a net positive effect on both their local and national economies. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that refugees and asylum seekers contributed a net $124 billion to the economy between 2005 and 2019.

 

RefugePoint’s Work

At RefugePoint, we work with refugees who have fled their homes and are living in host countries (click here to see a map of where we work). For refugees who are stuck in their host country without an opportunity to return home or access resettlement or another pathway to safety, we help them leverage their available resources to achieve self-reliance and become independent. For those who aren’t safely able to stay in their host countries, we help refugees access available legal pathways like resettlement, labor mobility, and family reunification to find safety in a third country.

 

 

FAQs

Is the crime rate among refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented migrants higher than for U.S. citizens?

No—in fact, the opposite is true. According to a large and growing body of local, state, and national research, refugees and asylum seekers commit crimes at lower rates than U.S. citizens. Furthermore, studies have shown that these groups also do not raise crime rates in areas where they live; in fact, one study found that cities with high immigration enjoyed lower homicide rates over time.

Undocumented migrants also commit crimes at lower rates than U.S. citizens. According to the Migration Policy Institute, “While being present in the United States without authorization represents an administrative infraction (punishable by removal), unauthorized immigrants are less likely to commit misdemeanor and felony crimes than the U.S.-born population and other immigrant groups.”

 

I’ve recently heard about “climate refugees.” Are these individuals treated the same as refugees in the eyes of the law?

No, they are not. It is important to note that “Climate Refugees,” a colloquial term describing those who have been displaced due to the growing effects of climate change, are not considered refugees in the eyes of international law (unless the displaced person has also been the subject of persecution as defined by refugee law) and are generally not able to access the same pathways or protections as refugees. It is worth noting that climate change can trigger or exacerbate conflict, so there are often complex interconnected reasons why people are forced to flee their homes. It is an emerging area of refugee law to establish a precedent for climate-related claims that amount to persecution. Some examples include minority groups that are excluded from government aid in response to climate disasters for political or ethnically-motivated reasons, and also environmental activists targeted by their own governments. 

 

What is humanitarian parole?

Humanitarian parole is a discretionary measure used by the U.S. government that is designed to allow foreign individuals to urgently enter the United States in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical treatment or to attend a relative’s funeral. Unlike the refugee admissions process, humanitarian parole does not offer permanent status (although in some cases, permanent status can later be acquired). Traditionally, humanitarian parole was used only rarely, for very few individuals, in the exceptional circumstances described above. More recently, the use of humanitarian parole has increased as an urgent response to people fleeing sudden danger in places such as Afghanistan and Ukraine, as other pathways such as the U.S. refugee admissions program would take too long. However, many advocates would prefer to see the pace of refugee resettlement accelerated rather than an ongoing broad use of humanitarian parole as a substitute rescue pathway, since the beneficiaries do not enjoy the same rights of residency and assistance after arrival. 

 

How many refugees are admitted into the U.S. each year?

In consultation with the Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services, and Congress, the President makes an annual determination of the number of refugees the U.S. agrees to admit each year. Click here and here to view U.S. annual refugee admissions ceilings and actual refugee admissions by year from 1980-present. In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. admitted 100,034 refugees. The ceiling set for 2025 is 125,000, though the incoming administration is likely to reduce this number drastically.

 

*According to UNHCR, there are currently 35.4 million refugees worldwide, but the total amount of forcibly displaced people globally is currently over 114 million.

 

By Alison Pappavaselio, Digital Communications Officer, RefugePoint

 

The Syrian refugee crisis is one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our time. Since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, millions of Syrians have fled their homes in search of safety. Here we explore the root causes of the crisis, the current situation for Syrian refugees, and how organizations like RefugePoint are making a difference.

 

What Caused the Syrian Refugee Crisis?

The Syrian civil war began in March 2011, but its roots run deeper. A combination of political repression, economic instability, and environmental factors contributed to the unrest. Decades of authoritarian rule under President Bashar al-Assad’s regime created widespread dissatisfaction. The Arab Spring uprisings in neighboring countries further inspired protests in Syria, which were met with brutal government crackdowns.

An often overlooked factor is the role of climate change. Severe droughts between 2006 and 2010 devastated Syrian agriculture, forcing many rural families to migrate to urban areas. The resulting economic strain and overcrowding fueled tensions, setting the stage for widespread unrest and conflict.

 

Why Did Syrians Flee Syria?

As tensions escalated, violence engulfed cities and towns across Syria. Targeted attacks on civilians made normal life impossible. The Syrian government’s forces were implicated in numerous attacks on civilians, including children. The government’s use of chemical weapons in incidents like the 2013 Ghouta attack and the deployment of barrel bombs have caused widespread destruction and thousands of civilian deaths since 2012. Essential services such as healthcare, education, and clean water became scarce, leaving families with no choice but to flee. By 2024, over 12 million Syrians had been displaced, with more than 5 million seeking refuge in other countries and 7 million internally displaced. 

 

Recent Developments

In a historic turn of events, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country in December 2024 following a rapid offensive by opposition forces. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) played a pivotal role in this military campaign, capturing key cities such as Aleppo and forcing regime forces to withdraw. Assad’s exile to Moscow marks the end of over a decade of authoritarian rule and opens a new chapter of uncertainty for Syria’s future.

 

 

Where Are Syrian Refugees Now?

The majority of Syrian refugees reside in neighboring countries:

• Türkiye: Home to over 3.2 million Syrian refugees, making it the largest host country.
• Lebanon: Hosting approximately 1.5 million refugees, Syrians now make up a significant portion of the population.
• Jordan: Nearly 620,000 registered refugees live in camps like Zaatari or within host communities.

Smaller numbers have resettled in Europe, North America, and beyond. Canada, for instance, welcomed over 100,000 Syrians through resettlement and labor mobility programs, demonstrating the potential for refugees to build their lives in safe, new countries around the world. RefugePoint has supported Syrian refugees across the Middle East and in far-flung countries such as China, Somalia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Thailand. 

 

How Is RefugePoint Helping Syrian Refugees?

Amid this global crisis, RefugePoint has been working to (a) develop and scale self-reliance programs for refugees living in the countries to which they fled, and (b) find safe, new homes for refugees through resettlement, labor mobility, and family reunification pathways. 

Directly, RefugePoint has helped nearly 8,200 Syrian refugees access resettlement opportunities to the US, Canada, Australia, EU, and other countries since 2014, with the goal of helping them resettle to safe, new homes. Through our partnership with the UN Refugee Agency, our staff are placed in key UNHCR locations around the world to assist with the identification and referral of refugees for resettlement consideration by governments worldwide.

In host countries like Turkiye and even within Syria itself, self-reliance programming is crucial. The Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI), (a global multi-stakeholder network of more than 250 organizations co-created by RefugePoint and the Women’s Refugee Commission and housed under RefugePoint) supports organizations working with Syrian refugees and/or Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host populations in a number of ways. The RSRI, through research and sharing of best practices, helps humanitarian organizations design programs that support the economic inclusion and social protection of refugees. Through the Self-Reliance Index Tool, the first-ever global tool for measuring the progress of refugee households toward self-reliance (which was jointly developed by RefugePoint and the Women’s Refugee Commission and is now hosted at the RSRI), organizations are also measuring the impact of their work, and learning from the results.  Seven organizations out of the broader RSRI network are actively using the tool in Syria and neighboring countries.

 

Reuniting Syrian Families: Ahmed* and Amir’s* Story

RefugePoint has also helped Syrian refugees reunite with family members living abroad. In a recent RefugePoint impact report, a Resettlement Expert named Geoffrey recounted the story of brothers Ahmed* and Amir*, who survived the devastating earthquake in southeastern Türkiye in February 2023. Tragically, they lost their parents and sister in the disaster. While Ahmed emerged physically unscathed, Amir sustained injuries requiring an amputation.

Geoffrey worked to ensure a stable future for the boys. After securing legal guardianship for Amir and facilitating family reunification with their aunt in the Netherlands, both brothers were able to resettle and begin rebuilding their lives. Stories like theirs illustrate how RefugePoint is well-placed to address the complex needs of refugees.

 

 

Why the Syrian Refugee Crisis is Important

The Syrian crisis underscores the global need for sustainable refugee solutions. Prolonged displacement leaves millions of refugees in limbo. Without access to education, employment, and healthcare—which is the reality for many refugees around the world—entire generations risk being left behind.

 

How to Support Syrian Refugees

Addressing the Syrian refugee crisis requires collective effort. While international organizations like the UN Refugee Agency play a crucial role, local groups such as the White Helmets provide vital on-the-ground support.

RefugePoint’s approach—focusing on self-reliance and life-changing solutions—offers a unique way to create long-term impact. By donating to RefugePoint, you can help Syrian refugees and other displaced people around the world rebuild their lives.

 

Conclusion

As we continue to confront this challenge, RefugePoint remains dedicated to providing innovative solutions that help refugees achieve safety and self-reliance.

Together, we can make a difference. Donate today to support our work and help refugees build a brighter future.

*Names changed for protection.

 

By Alison Pappavaselio, RefugePoint

Cover photo: Salah Darwish