Tell the Incoming Administration to Make Refugees a Priority

Make your voice heard and sign on to our petition to the incoming administration.

On January 20, Joe Biden will become President of the United States. His new administration has an extraordinary opportunity to restore US leadership on refugee protection by taking action on a number of fronts, including: US overseas humanitarian assistance, the refugee admissions program, asylum, and the Global Compact on Refugees.

Though the incoming administration has already made some commitments towards restoring US leadership on humanitarian issues, YOU made your voice heard. More than 200 people from across 35 states asked President-elect Biden to make refugee protection a priority. Here’s how we delivered your petition:

And, if you missed it, check out our January 19 panel discussion to learn more.

Sign the Petition

Dear President-elect Biden,

There are 80 million forcibly displaced people in our world. That’s 80 million people who are in need of support and welcome. The COVID-19 pandemic has only further exacerbated this need, as displaced people struggle with the impact of closed borders, shuttered schools, and the loss of livelihoods, among other things.

The United States has long been a leader in supporting and welcoming those who have been persecuted or experienced conflict, violence, or human rights violations, but this leadership has been threatened. As you consider your policy agenda, we ask that you make refugees a priority and restore US leadership on refugee protection by:

  1. Assisting refugees abroad – Ensure that as part of your budget proposal you invest in humanitarian assistance, including support for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). With 85 percent of all refugees hosted in developing countries, these funds provide critical support to meet the basic needs of displaced people, including access to food, water, shelter, healthcare, and education.
  2. Supporting refugee education – In particular, support for bilateral international education assistance and multilateral partnerships, notably Education Cannot Wait, provides critical assistance to 48 percent of school-age refugees who are out of school.
  3. Rebuilding the refugee admissions program – Thank you for your commitment to refugee resettlement by setting a goal of 125,000 for US refugee admissions. Please keep your promise and ensure that the annual US refugee admissions goal is based on vulnerability, allocating resettlement slots according to regional needs.
  4. Restoring the US as a place of welcome – Your administration has the opportunity to ensure those seeking safety and security in our country can do so. Please end restrictive asylum policies, including the Migrant Protection Protocols, family separation, and Title 42, and expand protections for all asylum seekers and unaccompanied children.
  5. Stopping the use of hateful and discriminatory refugee policies – Rescind the Muslim ban which has blocked the entrance of visitors from Muslim-majority countries, including refugees approved for resettlement.
  6. Leading global refugee response – Commit to the Global Compact on Refugees by setting forth substantial pledges including new historic levels of financial support and numbers of resettlement spots for refugees.

Sincerely,

JRS/USA Supporters