Presidential Determination Signed: RCUSA Responds to US’ Increased Commitment to Refugee Resettlement of 125,000 Refugees for Fiscal Year 2025

Washington, DC – On September 30, President Biden signed the Presidential Determination (PD) on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025, setting a goal of admitting 125,000 resettled refugees to the United States over the next twelve months. 

“The US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is a testament to the American people’s commitment to providing humanitarian protection for people who have been forced to flee their homes,” said Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) Executive Director John Slocum. “Under the current administration, the United States has resumed its historic role as the global leader in refugee resettlement, and RCUSA welcomes the Biden Administration’s continuing commitment to a strong resettlement program. Thanks to significant programmatic innovations implemented through robust public-private partnerships, the US welcomed 100,000 refugees in the fiscal year that just ended, and is well positioned to reach the goal of 125,000 refugee arrivals in the coming year.”

In August, RCUSA sent a letter to the President, recommending a resettlement ceiling for Fiscal Year 2025 of 135,000, and calling for bold reforms, adequate funding, and accountability measures to ensure a strong, sustainable effort to meet the needs of resettled refugees and the communities that welcome them. 

RCUSA continues to support innovations such as the new Welcome Corps initiative, which enables citizens and community groups to sponsor refugees. These and other efforts are strengthening the nationwide system of resettlement and welcoming for refugees and other forcibly displaced people. RCUSA joins the Administration and partners across the country in working toward the shared goal of a dynamic, resilient, flexible, and sustainable resettlement program, responsive to growing global displacement and able to withstand the challenges of the coming years and decades.

Media Contact: Mariam Sayeed msayeed@rcusa.org

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.

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