The bipartisan letter, signed by officials from all 50 states, is addressed to President Joe Biden and urges his administration to strengthen and sustain the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The program, established by Congress in 1980, facilitates the resettlement of refugees to the United States. According to the State Department, a record 110 million people worldwide are currently forcibly displaced, 40 percent of whom are women and children. Of these, 2.4 million refugees are in urgent need of protection through third-country resettlement. The letter highlights the positive impact refugees have on their host communities, citing examples of how they contribute to local economies by starting businesses, filling labor shortages, and enriching the social fabric. In their statement, the officials acknowledge the global forced migration crisis and emphasize the need for “bold leadership and innovative solutions.” “Refugee immigration provides the USA with substantial long-term economic benefits, provides diversity and cultural enrichment, helps create demographic balance, and often leads to increased entrepreneurship and innovation,” Ada Township Trustee Daniel Carter (R-MI) said in a joint statement about the effort. “In addition, it enhances our position as a humanitarian world leader and a country to be admired and replicated.” The letter comes at a time of intense debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. Most recently, Springfield, Ohio, has struggled with the arrival of 20,000 Haitian migrants, overwhelming a community with a population of just 60,000. The U.S. refugee resettlement process typically takes about two years. Refugees are eligible for various forms of support, including cash assistance, medical services, job placement, and English language training, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The letter was released ahead of the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions, which will set the annual resettlement target for Fiscal Year 2025. It was organized by several advocacy groups, including the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and the Refugee Advocacy Lab, in collaboration with Amnesty International USA and Church World Service. Signatories emphasize that their communities are prepared to welcome refugees but stress that federal support is essential to ensure the success and sustainability of the resettlement program. “Our refugee community in Georgia is full of incredible individuals from all walks of life, all professions, all backgrounds,” said State Senator Kim Jackson (D-Ga.). “Creating pathways to safety for our refugee community can and will only deeply enrich our state, weaving together a fabric of diversity and community that works together to take care of all Georgians.”Nearly 500 state and local officials from across the country have signed a letter expressing their support for refugee resettlement in their communities.
