RCUSA sends FY25 Refugee Admissions Recommendation to Biden Administration

Washington, DC- Today, RCUSA provided our recommendation for the upcoming Presidential Determination (PD) on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025. The PD is the annual refugee admissions goal, intended to be reflective of global need and domestic capacity. Our PD recommendation is paired with a set of specific actions that we urge the Biden administration to take to ensure continued modernization and revitalization of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

For FY 2025, RCUSA calls for a PD of at least 135,000, alongside bold programmatic reforms and accountability measures to address the urgent need to increase our commitment to resettlement in the United States.

We have a shared goal of a dynamic, resilient resettlement program, responsive to growing global displacement and the need to offer permanent protections to the most vulnerable, as well as sustainable and able to withstand the challenges of the coming years and decades. 

Forced displacement is steadily rising, each year setting a new record-breaking high. As of June 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that more than 117 million people are displaced from their homes as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and events seriously disturbing public order. This number includes 68.3 million people who have been displaced within their own country, 31.6 million refugees, 6.9 million people seeking asylum, and at least 4.4 million people who are stateless. It is projected that there will be 2.9 million refugees in need of resettlement by FY 2025. The availability of durable solutions for forcibly displaced people (FDP) is being far outpaced by displacement crises.

Our recommendation for FY 2025 is accompanied by a call for ongoing robust support from the Biden administration, Congress, and the public for strengthening and expanding the refugee admissions program. To sustainably meet the PD in FY25 and beyond, we urge the administration to commit resources to four key areas:

1. Doubling the Reception & Placement Direct Assistance and Administrative Per Capita funding.
2. Expanding national, state, and local housing policy solutions for refugees and newcomers to improve access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing.
3. Continuing to facilitate interagency coordination, including a focus on domestic capacity, improving access to health clinics, and processing of employment authorization and Social Security enrollment.
4. Continuing to invest political will in refugee processing improvements and program innovations, while upholding principles of equity, additionality, and high standards of care.

RCUSA’s letter to President Biden with its full recommendation and policy asks can be downloaded here.

“As global displacement crises escalate due to conflict and climate change, it is imperative for the United States to strengthen its commitment to refugee resettlement. Investing in and expanding the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is not only a moral obligation but also a strategic necessity,” said RCUSA Executive Director John Slocum. “By setting ambitious resettlement goals and supporting innovative programs like Welcome Corps, we can uphold America’s values of humanitarianism, inclusivity, and opportunity, ensuring that refugees find safety and belonging in our communities.”

“As the world continues to experience new and protracted displacement crises—exacerbated by the impacts of war and climate change—President Biden should send a message to the global community that the United States will stand by its commitment to welcome refugees,” said Sharif Aly, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). “Investing in and innovating the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is the right and smart thing to do to ensure that this vital program is ready to meet the moment and allow more displaced people around the world to find lasting refuge.”

“Communities thrive when all of us–newly arrived and longtime Americans alike–can put down roots and thrive,” said Rachel Perić, Executive Director of Welcoming America. “Welcoming America joins with RCUSA and its members in calling for a strong resettlement program–an investment in the future of American communities and the values of a welcoming nation for all.”

“As a nation with incredible resources and political power, we can and must do better to meaningfully protect and support human beings who are seeking safety and security,” said Diya Abdo, Founder and Director of Every Campus a Refuge. “I believe in the promise of America as a land of welcome and opportunity, and I work to keep that promise however I can. As the daughter of refugees and as an immigrant to this country, I am heartened every day by the power of loving and welcoming communities. And as a professor, I see the immense potential in our 4,000 colleges and universities to build our country’s capacity for expanded resettlement. I urge President Biden to keep America’s promise and to increase our resettlement goals to no less than 135,000 refugees in FY 2024. Many at higher education institutions across the nation stand ready to welcome and support those newest Americans.”

“HIAS commends the Biden administration for the great strides it has taken to increase the number of refugees the U.S. welcomes through its refugee resettlement program. We can’t be complacent in this moment of historic displacement around the world–and we can do more. HIAS calls on the administration to commit to resettling at least 135,000 refugees in FY2025, as well as 40,000 SIV holders. This goal will not be possible without the critical funding the administration and Congress must commit to make that happen. Welcoming communities can then be supported in making sure our new American neighbors have access to the services and support that they need to start their lives over again with dignity in towns and cities across the country,” said Naomi Steinberg, HIAS Vice President, U.S. Policy & Advocacy.

“The ongoing crisis of forced displacement requires a sustained global response to address the needs of refugee populations,” said Latoya Nugent, Head of Engagement at Rainbow Railroad. “As a global leader in refugee resettlement, the United States must invest in durable solutions to ensure more refugees can find safety, home and belonging. We are passionate about the potential of programs like Welcome Corps, which allow for refugees to find safety in the United States with the support of engaged Americans, meeting the unique resettlement needs of LGBTQI+ refugees. As the number of people experiencing forced displacement continues to exponentially increase, it is imperative that the United States leads by example in ensuring that LGBTQI+ people at risk have access to stable resettlement pathways.” 

“We welcome and celebrate the growth in U.S. refugee resettlement over the last year, and we call on the Administration to invest in the long-term sustainability of the U.S. resettlement program, said Betsy Fisher, U.S. Director, Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB). “That includes ensuring that new methods of resettlement, like Welcome Corps, are meaningfully expanding the U.S. resettlement programs’ capacity. The U.S. government should also invest in and ensure refugees’ access to other humanitarian, family, and employment-based immigration pathways.” 

“We applaud efforts by the Biden administration to transform the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program by implementing technology-driven efficiencies, prioritizing refugees who have been waiting for years, increasing resettlement in the Western Hemisphere through the Safe Mobility Offices, and developing innovative complementary pathways through the Welcome Corps program. At the same time, we are mindful that these efficiencies must be matched with comparable investments in domestic resettlement capacity for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to reach its full potential. We are ready to continue welcoming and supporting refugees from all over the world, but we need the resources to be able to withstand the headwinds of unforeseen displacement crises and the rising cost of living. There are over 120 million people displaced globally, an unprecedented historic high when 75% of displaced people are in poorer rather than richer countries. America must now make a bold commitment to a new refugee admissions target. This is a moment of global responsibility, and we look forward to helping the U.S. administration meet this moment,” said Hans Van de Weerd, Senior Vice President of Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration at the International Rescue Committee (IRC).   

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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