Apr 20, 2021

USCIRF Reiterates its Call to Urgently Increase the Refugee Ceiling

Encourages Prioritization of the Most Vulnerable

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) joins in the calls on President Joseph R. Biden to immediately sign the directive raising the numerical ceiling for refugees accepted from abroad through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for the current Fiscal Year, which runs until October 1, 2021. The International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) requires that religious persecution should be considered in determining the refugee ceiling.

Since the USRAP began in 1980, the maximum for refugees accepted into the United States has averaged 95,000 per year. The refugee ceiling for the current fiscal year is 15,000, a historic low.

“The current refugee ceiling level fails to reflect that unprecedented numbers of individuals worldwide are forcibly displaced by conflict or persecution, including based on their religion or belief,” said USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin. “We understand that the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border may have delayed the decision to raise the ceiling. We hope that the United States will open its doors to more refugees as soon as possible.”

“The delay in increasing the refugee ceiling has left thousands of refugees stranded and struggling to survive in dangerous and life-threatening conditions,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Anurima Bhargava. “On top of the trauma these individuals and families have already experienced, some refugees who are fully vetted to come to the United States have had to wait indefinitely, with flights to their new home repeatedly cancelled and their clearances expired.”

On Friday, President Biden signed an emergency declaration to speed up refugee admissions and return to regional allocations, but did not raise the ceiling from the current 15,000 person low. Late Friday, the administration stated that President Biden is expected to increase the refugee ceiling for this fiscal year by May 15th. The declaration followed the Biden administration announcement in February that the ceiling would be increased to 62,500 for this fiscal year and 125,000 for the fiscal year that starts on October 1. At that time, the Biden administration also noted the possible creation of several new priority categories for access to the resettlement program, including for certain severely persecuted religious groups.

“We urge the Biden administration to prioritize the most vulnerable refugees, which includes survivors of the most egregious forms of religious persecution,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins. “To stand by our nation’s commitment to religious freedom, the United States should be a safe haven for persecuted religious communities, including those who have fled genocide and crimes against humanity.”

USCIRF recommended in its 2020 Annual Report that the U.S. government return the annual ceiling for the USRAP to the previously-typical 95,000. USCIRF held a hearing on “Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution” in February that examined ways in which the U.S. government could better support refugees and asylum seekers.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].