FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2024
Contact: Timothy Young | timothy.young@globalrefuge.org
Washington, D.C. – The White House announced today that President Biden has officially signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Presidential Determination on refugee admissions, maintaining the annual cap at 125,000 refugees.
While the target remains the same for the fourth consecutive fiscal year, arrivals through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) have significantly increased from an all-time low of 11,411 in FY 2021, which followed dramatic cuts by the Trump administration and operational complications from the COVID-19 pandemic. In FY 2024, refugee admissions approached 100,000, of which more than 14,000 were welcomed by Global Refuge, marking the highest level of refugee resettlement since FY 1995.
Top countries of origin include refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela and Burma (Myanmar). FY 2024 also saw the highest ever level of resettlement of refugees from Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 20,000 admissions from the region, thanks in large part to the Biden administration’s launch of its Safe Mobility Offices – overseas processing centers where refugees can access eligibility screenings for legal pathways to enter the United States.
In response to the growth of the refugee program, Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge, said:
“We commend the Biden administration for its steadfast efforts to rebuild the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Resettling nearly 100,000 refugees, a figure equivalent to the three previous fiscal years combined, represents a milestone achievement signaling renewed U.S. humanitarian leadership. Thanks to this administration’s commitment, these families have found safety, hope, and a sense of belonging in communities that are eager to embrace them as neighbors, friends, congregants, and co-workers.”
“Despite continued misinformation about refugees, these newcomers revitalize the fabric of our communities, address critical labor shortages, and contribute billions more in tax revenue than they ever receive in government assistance. They may arrive with little, but like every previous generation of those yearning to breathe free, refugees make our nation stronger than they found it.”
“As we inch closer to the 2024 election, there is much uncertainty about the future of persecuted refugees’ ability to seek safety and freedom in the United States. Our sincere hope is to continue this country’s long bipartisan legacy of welcoming the most vulnerable and leading by the power of our example. In these divisive times, we ask Americans to look for the best of themselves reflected in refugees: an enduring search for freedom, a drive to provide for their loved ones, to turn struggle into possibility, and to shine as a beacon for those who need hope the most.”
Global Refuge urges continued progress in FY 2025 on resettling groups facing continued risks to their safety, such as Afghan refugees and Rohingya refugees in eastern Bangladesh. Global Refuge also encourages the U.S. government to expand access to protection for displaced populations vulnerable to climate-related risks.
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About us:
Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. For 85 years, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, welcome and respite services for asylum seekers, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. To date, we have served over 750,000 people from around the globe. At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn’t just our duty—it’s an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values, and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge.
