The 1980 Refugee Act grants the President the authority, in consultation with Congress, to establish refugee resettlement priorities and numerical targets based on geographic regions. During his term, President Trump slashed refugee resettlement numbers to historic lows, forcing many refugee assistance organizations to lay off staff and close offices. While the Biden administration has gradually raised the numbers for refugee resettlement, bipartisan support for the program remains elusive. Attracting new workers through programs such as refugee resettlement can serve as a fiscal boon to these vital services. These isolationist tendencies in U.S. foreign policy not only leave millions in peril but also threaten America’s standing as a global leader.

Source: New York Times October 18, 2024 17:21 UTC