At a time when an unprecedented number of people around the world are fleeing violence and persecution, the United States has begun to draw back from its role as the historic leader in refugee resettlement in the international community.
Take action today: Urge your Members of Congress to raise the number of refugees admitted to the United States to historic average levels.
The Trump Administration decided that the maximum number of refugees to be admitted to the United States in 2020 will be just 18,000 - a significant drop from last year's number, 30,000, and the historic annual average of 95,000.
Members of Congress in the House and Senate have introduced legislation which will raise the refugee admissions goal to a minimum of 95,000, the annual average number of refugees admitted to the U.S. historically. It will increase congressional authority over the development of the refugee admissions ceiling and require the president to take into account global resettlement needs, as identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), when setting the U.S. refugee resettlement quota. This will help our nation better respond to the needs of refugees around the world, many of whom remain in temporary camps until a nation volunteers to resettle them.
Take action: Tell Congress to support the GRACE Act to raise the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. today.
Read about Catholic leaders' responses to the cuts to the refugee program in Maryknoll Magazine.
Photo of refugees in a Pakistani refugee camp available in the public domain.