RCUSA Expresses Deep Concern over President’s Failure to Consult with Congress and Issue FY 2026 Refugee Admissions Goal, thereby Blocking Refugee Admissions in Defiance of U.S. Law

Washington D.C. — Refugee Council USA is deeply disturbed that the administration has defied U.S. legal requirements by failing to consult with Congress or issue a refugee admissions goal for Fiscal Year 2026 in time to meet today’s statutory deadline. The administration’s delay not only runs counter to the legal framework of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, but also undermines our nation’s longstanding moral commitment to those fleeing persecution.

“At every turn, the administration has betrayed our nation’s promise as a refuge for the oppressed. Since January 20th, the Trump administration has sought to dismantle the U.S. resettlement program piece by piece, abandoning the more than 120,000 refugees who have passed through years of vetting and screening and had been approved for resettlement when President Trump took office. This latest delay further compounds the harms of the President’s refugee ban, bringing refugee processing and admissions to an abrupt halt. Moreover, the administration continues to distort the aims and operations of the U.S. resettlement program by prioritizing Afrikaners for resettlement, ahead of – and instead of – the most at-risk refugees from around the world,” said John Slocum, Executive Director, Refugee Council USA.

RCUSA urges the administration to immediately schedule the legally-mandated consultation with Congress and restore the nation’s refugee admissions program without further unlawful delay and obstruction – including by setting a refugee admissions goal of 125,000 as soon as possible. With the backdrop of the government shutdown, RCUSA also calls on Congress to invest in refugee processing, admissions, and services like healthcare, nutrition assistance, and education so newly arriving families can rebuild their lives.

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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