2024 Presidential Election- Refugee Council USA Reaffirms Support for Protecting and Welcoming Forcibly Displaced People

Washington, DC- Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) is a diverse coalition of 41 US-based leading organizations dedicated to ensuring protection, welcome, and opportunity for forcibly displaced people.

Political discourse has coarsened and drifted toward harmful, dishonest narratives that vilify newcomers and blame them for problems not of their making. RCUSA urges President-elect Trump to embrace the vital need for civil discourse, to treat newcomers with dignity and compassion, and to make a sincere commitment to healing the deep divisions within our country. 

The act of welcoming refugees reflects core values cherished by the majority of Americans – it benefits our communities and strengthens national security. Often driven by deeply held religious, moral, or ethical beliefs, tens of thousands of volunteers, community organizations, and faith-based groups from all political backgrounds actively participate in refugee resettlement. A new survey conducted by the Refugee Advocacy Lab and Data for Progress shows that 70% of Americans support the US Refugee Admissions Program – a number that rose to 89% when those polled reported personally knowing someone who is a refugee.

As we look toward a Trump administration, RCUSA stands firm in its commitment to refugee resettlement and access to asylum. RCUSA values and supports people experiencing statelessness, torture victims, and others in need of protection. We call on the incoming administration to embrace policies of welcome and acknowledge the essential contributions of newcomers to the social fabric and economic vitality of the United States. And we stand in solidarity with broader movements for dignity, justice, and human rights for all. 

To learn more about how the United States offers protection and assistance for forcibly displaced people, see this explainer on the RCUSA website. 

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RCUSA is a diverse coalition advocating for just and humane laws and policies, and the promotion of dialogue and communication among government, civil society, and those who need protection and welcome. Individual RCUSA members do not all address all refugee-related issues, nor do all individual members approach common refugee-related issues identically.

Media Contact: Mariam Sayeed msayeed@rcusa.org