U.S. Communities Want to Welcome Refugees
On its first days in office, the Trump administration indefinitely suspended the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Part of its rationale for doing so was an unfounded claim that refugees place a burden on local communities.
In reality, the U.S. refugee resettlement program enriches communities and strengthens local economies.
Can we count on you to help set the record straight?
We’re calling on bipartisan elected state and local officials to sign the below letter to Secretaries Rubio and Noem affirming their communities are ready to welcome refugees.
Elected officials, add your name to our growing list of officials on the letter here.
Constituents, contact your elected officials and urge them to sign the letter here.
The deadline for signatures is March 13, 2025.
Have a question? Email info@refugeeadvocacylab.org.
– – – TEXT OF LETTER – – – – – – – – – – – –
The Honorable Secretary Marco Rubio
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
The Honorable Secretary Kristi Noem
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
3801 Nebraska Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem:
As elected leaders of our communities at all levels of state and local government, we write today to express our strong support for welcoming refugees. We are deeply alarmed by the Administration’s indefinite suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), a program that has provided a lifeline for people seeking safety, strengthening the social and economic fabric of communities nationwide. For these reasons and more, bipartisan leaders have supported USRAP over these last 45 years. The executive order suspending USRAP misrepresents the concerns of state and local elected leaders, marks an abrupt departure from our American values of welcoming people seeking safety, and impairs our economic growth.
Upon taking office, Secretary Rubio said: “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”
Our resounding response is: Yes, refugee resettlement makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
The U.S. resettlement program is not only critical to global humanitarian efforts, but also a successful and efficient model of public/private partnerships for refugee resettlement around the world. Private sponsorship, a way for local communities to participate directly in resettlement, has inspired thousands of everyday Americans and many employers to raise their hands to personally welcome refugees. In addition, accepting refugees creates goodwill among partner nations, advancing our foreign policy, diplomatic, and national security interests, and as we saw with the Special Immigrant Visa programs, provides a safe pathway for people who supported our troops.
The U.S. resettlement program enjoys broad support among American voters. Refugees undergo significant health and security vetting before entering the United States: They are subject to lengthy and extensive screenings, including in-person interviews, medical screenings, biometric data checks, and multiple interagency background checks.
Locally, we have seen firsthand how refugees enrich our communities – strengthening our economies and civic institutions. As our local employers struggle with labor shortages and declining populations nationwide, humanitarian pathways like refugee resettlement are a boost to our economies. In 2022 alone, refugees paid $36.1 billion in total taxes and held $83 billion in spending power. According to a recent Health and Human Services report, refugees and asylees contributed a $124 billion net positive fiscal impact to our economy. Our communities have benefited directly from their contributions: refugees establish businesses, fill critical gaps in the labor force in healthcare, manufacturing, STEM, and other key industries. Refugees strengthen our cultural and social fabric, ensuring our states – and country – remain economically and socially vibrant.
Republicans and Democrats alike – from Springfield, Ohio to Charleroi, Pennsylvania – welcome our newcomer neighbors who contribute to and enrich our cities and towns across this great nation. As state and local elected leaders, we understand that your suspension of refugee admissions is rooted in a concern for our communities’ wellbeing. We are here to tell you that the U.S. refugee resettlement program unequivocally makes our communities stronger.
As you consider the future of this program in the coming weeks, we urge you to draw upon our nation’s best values, our local economic interests, and restore the refugee resettlement program.
Sincerely,
Signatures to follow