The June 26th Supreme Court decision upholds parts of President Trump’s Executive Order and suspends travel for refugees who “lack any bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.” This is a potentially devastating blow to refugees and goes against our American values of welcome.
RefugePoint was founded to help refugees in life-threatening situations resettle to the U.S. and other countries around the world where they can rebuild their lives in safety. These are orphans, children, mothers, those with life-threatening injuries, members of the LGBTIQ community, women at risk, and others.
The intensive selection process of the U.S. resettlement program includes vetting by multiple national security agencies that can often take more than two years. A wide range of Republican and Democratic national security experts have stated that resettlement is in the national security interest. Refugees are not a risk to our country, but rather benefit America over the long term with their entrepreneurialism, economic contributions, and drive to succeed. Due to the Supreme Court ruling many may now be stuck in continued limbo and desperation.
RefugePoint is committed to expanding refugee resettlement for the world’s most at-risk refugees. The U.S. has always been a lifeline and global leader for refugees in need of resettlement. The administration should immediately begin reviewing the vetting process and restart the resettlement program in full so that those around the world in desperation and danger can continue to find safety in America.