Today, the President signed the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2024, establishing a refugee admissions goal of 125,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.
The world is currently grappling with an unparalleled global displacement crisis, with a staggering number of individuals forced to flee due to conflicts, persecution, and instability.
In response to this crisis, the United States has undertaken significant efforts to rebuild, streamline, and expand the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programme.
In 2023, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of State introduced the innovative Welcome Corps program. This initiative empowers ordinary Americans to extend a warm welcome to refugees arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programme.
The Welcome Corps on Campus programme was launched, targeting higher education institutions to take an active role in resettling refugee students. Achieving the ambitious goal of admitting 125,000 refugees, a milestone not reached in three decades, is now within reach.
As part of today’s determination by President Biden, the United States has significantly expanded resettlement efforts for individuals from Latin America and the Caribbean, offering protection pathways within our region.
The administration’s focus remains on enlarging the resettlement of specific vulnerable populations, including Afghan allies, Rohingya refugees, LGBTQI+ individuals, human rights defenders, and those persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Our leadership in refugee resettlement aligns with our historical identity as a nation that welcomes those in need. Since the passage of the Refugee Act in 1980, the United States has provided refuge to over three million refugees. In conjunction with robust humanitarian aid and diplomatic efforts, U.S. refugee resettlement contributes to stability in regions facing crises and underscores our responsibility-sharing with nations hosting refugees
