Washington, DC (September 18, 2018) – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) has long opposed the Trump Administration’s low refugee admissions goals. The White House announced late yesterday that it is committed to resettling only 30,000 for FY2019—the lowest in the resettlement program’s history.
Contact: Tim McHugh, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2515
“Quakers have long advocated that we must welcome refugees. It is our moral responsibility and opportunity to care for and protect one another,” said Diane Randall, Executive Secretary for FCNL. “Children and their families are among those refugees who are desperate for security and freedom; the people of the United States have the ability to open our hearts and our communities to help. We will faithfully work to reverse course.” In 2017, the White House set the refugee admissions goal at 45,000—the lowest since the program’s inception in 1980. Due to a series of refugee bans and increases in bureaucratic barriers, the U.S. is not even on track to resettle half that number this year. Instead of committing to catching up, the administration opted to set an even lower goal for FY 2019. The number was also set without any meaningful consultation with Congress as required by law.
An estimated 65 million people are displaced worldwide—an unprecedented 22.5 million of whom are refugees fleeing to other countries. Additionally, between 75 and 80 percent of refugees and internally displaced people are women and children.
“In light of the worst global refugee crisis in history, this low refugee admissions goal is another tone-deaf demonstration of our nation’s failure to fulfill our faithful responsibility to welcome the stranger,” explained Hannah Graf Evans, FCNL’s Legislative Representative for Immigration and Refugee Policy. “Our nation has historically led the way when it comes to permanent refugee resettlement, and we have the capacity right now to do far more than we actually are.”
FCNL calls on Congress and the White House to work to remedy root causes of violent conflict that drive people from their homes instead of preventing those seeking safety, security, and peace from finding it here in the United States.
Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL lobbies Congress and the administration for U.S. policies that advance peace, justice, and good government.
