Donate

BREAKING: Take Action to Decry Trump Administration’s Cruel, Unlawful Rule Paving the Way to Terminate Refugee Status for Resettled Refugees

Background: On October 14th, the Trump administration is set to publish an “interim final rule” (IFR) that significantly reduces from 30 days to 10 days the notice of intent to terminate refugee status. This rule will take effect that same day and means that refugees would have no meaningful opportunity to respond to the federal government’s efforts to terminate their refugee status, making them vulnerable to deportation to places where their lives are in danger.

This unprecedented action marks a dramatic departure from U.S. law and longstanding humanitarian commitments. It represents a severe threat to the safety, stability, and dignity of people who fled persecution, conflict, or violence and to whom our country promised freedom, safety, and a permanent new home. We recognize that this rule is devastating to the refugee community who have spent the last several years rebuilding their lives in safety and become cherished neighbors. 

This rule follows a series of directives from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), ordering a sweeping review of more than 200,000 individuals admitted to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) during the previous administration. Reopening their cases is already a cruel, wasteful exercise, retraumatizing refugees already subject to this “re-vetting” process and serves only as pretext to remove refugees to countries where their lives may be in danger or they face persecution. 

Right now is a critical time to ensure the Trump administration hears a swift and powerful response that refugees are welcome in our communities. Urge your elected leaders to:

  • Hold the administration accountable to rescind the interim final rule and halt any actions that would terminate refugee status, including the unnecessary re-vetting of refugees who are already among the most vetted individuals to arrive in the United States. 
  • Pressure DHS and USCIS to immediately and fully resume processing of refugee I-485 green card applications and create a clear mechanism for members of Congress to request expedited processing particularly for individuals with severe medical conditions.
  • Speak out publicly and do everything in their power to safeguard their refugee communities. 

We want all Americans who came to this country seeking safety to know that we will not stop speaking out and hope to uplift your voices in any way we can.

Click on the right-hand side to input your information to send an email directly to your elected leaders.

RCUSA’s statement in response to the IFR is available here. AfghanEvac’s explainer is available here. Sample messaging and talking points is available here. AILA’s practice alert is available here.

For more information, please check out IRAP’s Explainer, Revetting Toolkit (for legal practitioners), Refugee Revetting and Detention resources (for impacted communities), “What is refugee revetting?” (translations in progress), and “I received a “Notice of Intent to Terminate” my refugee status. What does this mean?” (translations in progress).