News outlets are reporting that the Trump administration may set the refugee admissions goal for next fiscal year at 45,000 – the lowest goal in U.S. history. The average admissions goal from when The Refugee Act of 1980 passed up till today is 95,000, with an average of 80,000 refugees resettled each year.
Southeast Asian Americans are the largest refugee community ever resettled in the United States. Over 1.3 million community members came as refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. At the height of the refugee crisis after the war and genocide ended, 166,700 refugees arrived in the U.S. from Southeast Asia alone in 1980, and 123,250 in 1981. Even during this time, the majority of Americans opposed resettling refugees from Southeast Asia, but the spirit of humanitarianism and welcome prevailed.
Today, we face the worst displacement crisis in recorded history with more than 65 million people who have been forced from their homes. There are more than 22 million refugees worldwide — the worst refugee crisis the world has ever seen. More than half are children, many of whom have witnessed profound violence. Refugees are just people seeking a chance to rebuild their lives and raise a family in safety.
As a community of refugees and children of refugees, we must demonstrate a swift and powerful response, so that both the White House and Congress hear loud and clear that any number less than 75,000 is unacceptable.
Take Action
Tweet at the White House and call your Senators and Representatives: 1-866-961-4293
Please call 3 times to connect with your Representative and both of your Senators.
Sample Script:
“I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN]. I strongly support refugee resettlement and am outraged by reports that President Trump may set the refugee admissions goal for next year at 45,000. I urge you to do everything in your power to see that the administration resettle at least 75,000 refugees in 2018. As we face a global refugee crisis with more than 22 million refugees, resettlement strengthens our national security, encourages other countries to keep their doors open to refugees, and advances our foreign policy interests. I call on you to protect the U.S. refugee resettlement program. My community welcomes refugees, and I urge you to reflect the best of our American values of compassion and hospitality.”
Tweet at President Trump and your Senators & Representatives:
“.@realDonaldTrump and @[YOUR Senators/Representative] 45k refugees is inexcusable – would be the lowest refugee goal EVER. Stop dismantling refugee resettlement. #RefugeesWelcome #GreaterAs1”
