Trump Administration Limits U.S. Refugee Admissions to Record Low

In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has set a record-low cap for refugee admissions to the United States, limiting it to 7,500 for the current fiscal year. This decision marks the lowest level since the inception of the U.S. refugee program in 1980.

Details of the Refugee Admission Policy

According to a notification published in the Federal Register, the administration plans to primarily admit Afrikaners from South Africa, as well as other groups facing illegal or unjust discrimination in their homelands. This focus has resulted in a nearly halted refugee resettlement program for other nationalities.

Minimal Resettlement for Other Groups

• Since March, several hundred Afrikaners have been resettled across the U.S.
• Resettlement groups have expressed concern over resource limitations and the restricted admission of refugees from other countries.

Many organizations have had to cease operations, drastically altering the landscape of refugee assistance in the U.S.

Criteria and Reactions

The notification does not elaborate on the rationale behind the lower cap, only referencing previous Trump administration policies that have paused admissions and curtailed immigration from specific countries deemed security threats.

Christopher Landau, the Deputy Secretary of State, emphasized that criteria for refugee admissions include ensuring individuals do not pose national security risks and can assimilate into American society.

Critics, including Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President of Global Refuge, argue that this policy diminishes the U.S.’s moral standing in the face of global crises in countries such as Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Sudan.

Broader Advocacy Efforts

Advocates have been actively calling for an increase in the refugee cap to include a wider range of admissions. Currently, there are more individuals who have passed security vetting and are awaiting resettlement, far exceeding the new cap.

Implications for Refugees

• Resettlement agencies have faced significant budget cuts due to the new policies.
• Many refugees, particularly those from Afghanistan who supported U.S. military efforts, are left in uncertainty as flights for their resettlement have been canceled.

A lower-court ruling had mandated the government to resume the program for refugees already approved for travel, but this decision was overturned by an appeals court, allowing the administration’s policy to prevail.

Despite earlier promises to assist Afghan allies, the latest notification in the Federal Register makes no mention of their plight, highlighting the administration’s shift in focus.