Tell Congress to Fight for At-Risk Refugees, as Trump Administration Doubles Down on Refugee Ban

Background: Last year, the Trump administration suspended the U.S. resettlement program, leaving stranded more than 120,000 refugees across 90 nationalities who had already been conditionally-approved for resettlement in the United States. Although the administration initially set an FY 2026 refugee admissions goal of 7,500 (a record low), the refugee ban remains in place, and 95% of this fiscal year’s ~6,000 arrivals have been Afrikaners.

In May 2026, the Trump administration increased the Fiscal Year 2026 refugee admissions goal to 17,500, an increase of 10,000, without any provision for broadening the range of populations of concern to be admitted to the United States. This increase is reserved entirely for the resettlement of Afrikaners from South Africa, while doubling down on the indefinite and unlawful refugee and expanded travel bans, in open disregard for the nondiscriminatory statutory framework for resettling refugees established by Congress.

Right now is a critical time for our elected leaders to pressure the Trump administration to fully resume refugee processing and admissions, accompanied by a robust refugee admissions goal, in a manner that reflects global needs and protects people whose lives are at direct risk. RCUSA’s statement in response to this news is available here.

Click on the right-hand side to be connected to your 2 U.S. Senators and 1 U.S. Representative.

Amplify on Social Media: Click here for sample social media posts, and click here for a sample graphic.