The administration is reportedly considering another drastic cut in refugee arrivals next fiscal year. Take action to ensure your members of Congress are weighing in.

On August 1, the New York Times reported that the White House is considering setting the goal for refugee arrivals next fiscal year at 25,000 or fewer. This is a serious abdication of our nation’s responsibility to protect vulnerable populations and welcome those seeking refuge.

Last year, the White House set the lowest goal in the resettlement program’s history at 45,000. Due to a series of refugee bans and increases in bureaucratic barriers, our nation is not even on track to resettle half that number this year.

Refugee resettlement agencies and communities across the country are ready and willing to resettle at least 75,000 in fiscal year 2019. This nation can and must welcome more refugees, and members of Congress should be weighing in.

In particular, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are meant to be consulted before the President sets the annual refugee admissions goal. If your senator is on this committee, ask them to demand a robust consultation process and push the administration to welcome at least 75,000 refugees in fiscal year 2019.

All members should be hearing from their constituents about welcoming refugees.

Take Action

1. Call Your Members of Congress

Say:

Hi, my name is X. I am from CITY, and I support welcoming refugees. I heard the troubling reports that the White House is considering only welcoming 25,000 refugees next year, or maybe even fewer. We are already behind schedule in meeting this year’s goal of 45,000. We may not even hit half that goal. Members of the Judiciary committee are meant to be consulted ahead of the presidential determination and exercise oversight over the resettlement program. I hope the Senator will weigh in and push for a goal of at least 75,000 in fiscal year 2019. My community welcomes refugees.

2. Advocate Over August Recess

Refugee Council USA put together a toolkit for advocating over the August recess. President Trump must make this decision by September 30, but the decision could come as early as the first week of September. August is a perfect time to make your voices heard as members of Congress are home.

3. Educate Your Community and Members of Congress about Refugee Resettlement

Check out these resources that can help you learn more about the success and necessity of the refugee resettlement program, along with some of the barriers put into place under the Trump administration.

• Fact vs. Fear from Church World Service
• State-by-State Information from Refugee Council USA
• Understanding the Muslim Bans from National Immigration Law Center