Thematic Focus: Resettlement to the United States

The Trump administration has set the cap for refugee admissions in fiscal year 2019 at 30,000, the lowest since the Refugee Act of 1980 was enacted. Here are the Secretary of State's remarks. That said, the actual number of refugees admitted could very well be much lower, based on what has occurred in fiscal year 2018. So far, just under 21,000 refugees have made it into the country, despite a ceiling of 45,000.

For reference, here is a fact sheet on U.S. refugee law and policy.

For additional information, review the following for background, current news reports and reactions:

"America’s System for Resettling Refugees is Collapsing," The Atlantic, 9 Sept. 2018 [text]

*Anchor Institutions: Refugee Resettlement Agencies (Fiscal Policy Institute, Sept. 2018) [text]

"As US Resettles Fewer Refugees, Pentagon Has Concerns," VOA News, 23 Aug. 2018 [text]

*"A Better Way to Absorb Refugees," The Atlantic, 6 Sept. 2018 [text]

The Contributions of Refugees to the Nation and the Importance of a Robust US Refugee Program, Webinar, 6 Sept. 2018 [access]
- Follow link for video.

"Despite Trump's Promise to Protect Them, Christian Refugees Struggle to Enter U.S.," NBC News, 12 Sept. 2018 [text]

"Determinants of Refugee Naturalization in the United States," PNAS, Ahead of Print, 27 Aug. 2018 [abstract]

How to Save the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, U.S. Report, no. 2 (International Crisis Group, Sept. 2018) [text]

*"A Needs and Readiness Assessment of the United States Refugee Resettlement Program: Focus on Syrian Asylum‐Seekers and Refugees," International Migration, vol. 57, no. 1 (Feb. 2019) [free full-text]
- See also related MinnPost article.

Refugee Resettlement by the Numbers: FY17 vs. FY18 Arrivals Comparison (International Rescue Committee, Sept. 2018) [text]

Refugee Resettlement in the First 10 Months of Fiscal Year 2018 (Human Rights First, Aug. 2018) [text]

"Special Report: Slamming the Door - How Trump Transformed U.S. Refugee Program," Reuters, 12 Sept. 2018 [text]

The Strategic Case for Refugee Resettlement (Niskanen Center, Sept. 2018) [text]

"Trump Admin Rejected Report Showing Refugees Did Not Pose Major Security Threat," NBC News, 5 Sept. 2018 [text]

*Trump Administration Justifies Lowest Refugee Admission Target Ever, Arguing That America’s Generosity Remains Boundless (Immigration Impact Blog, Sept. 2018) [text]

The Trump Administration’s Dismal Record on Refugees (Human Rights Watch, Sept. 2018) [text]

*"Trump is Gutting America’s Refugee Program Even Though Most Americans Support It," Vice News, 19 Sept. 2018 [text]

Trump Slashed Refugee Levels This Year. For 2019, He’s Slashing Them Even Further (Vox, Sept. 2018) [text]

"Trump's Huge Mistake on Refugees," New York Times, 11 Sept. 2018 [text]

"Trump’s Refugee Fiasco," Politico, 18 Sept. 2018 [text]

"U.N. Refugee Agency Gives Trump's Latest Cuts a Weary Shrug," U.S. News & World Report, 18 Sept. 2018 [text]

Under Trump, Refugee Admissions are Falling Way Short — Except for Europeans (Vox, Sept. 2018) [text]

"The U.S. Relinquishes Its Role as a Leader in Refugee Resettlement," The Atlantic, 18 Sept. 2018 [text]
- See also earlier related Atlantic article.

*UPDATED

Related post:
- Thematic Focus: Solutions (20 Aug. 2018)

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