Washington, D.C.—In response to President Biden’s continuation of the historic low refugee resettlement goal, and the breaking of his promise to prioritize the resettlement program in his administration, Erol Kekic, Executive Director for Voice for Refuge, issued the following statement: 

“Keeping the refugee admissions goal at an all time low is unfathomable and devastating to thousands of refugees waiting to reunify with loved ones in the United States. We endorsed Biden based on his commitment to a robust refugee resettlement program. Yet with his first opportunity to reverse Trump’s xenophobic policies, President Biden has broken his promise. 

Our trust in this administration has been shaken. Just when refugee families and American communities finally had hope again, Biden has pulled the rug out from under their feet. Between the delay in formalizing a new Presidential Determination, to pitting vulnerable populations against each other, now is the time to hold this administration accountable. The United States can and should resettle refugees – and welcome asylum seekers and unaccompanied children – as we have done for decades. Congress and voters must urgently press the administration not to abandon our ideals and to keep its commitment to resettling as many refugees this year as possible and meaningfully rebuilding the life-saving refugee resettlement program.”

For more information, or to speak with Kekic, contact Christopher Plummer at cplummer@voiceforrefuge.org