Jesuit Refugee Service/USA welcomes the Administration’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2023, which prioritizes U.S. leadership on refugee and humanitarian assistance issues. Given the broad range of humanitarian crises across the globe including Ukraine, Myanmar, and Venezuela, U.S. engagement and financial support is critical to build the political will and robust alliances necessary to address these challenges.

“Today’s budget request demonstrates that the U.S. is prepared to devote the necessary resources for the kinds of programs that create real change in the lives of millions of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons,” said Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director. “Investments in emergency relief, education, peacebuilding, and climate change mitigation as well as rebuilding our refugee support services here at home must continue to be a national priority.”

Released today, the Administration’s proposal includes more than $10 billion to respond to the unprecedented need arising from conflict and natural disasters around the world serving over 70 countries and approximately 240 million people. Of this, almost $4 million will fund the Department of State’s Migration & Refugee Assistance account which helps to address conflict-related displacement and supports humanitarian action and diplomacy for displaced populations.

The budget proposal continues the Biden Administration’s efforts to rebuild the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program by providing $6.3 billion to the Office of Refugee Resettlement to support the resettling of up to 125,000 refugees in 2023. The proposal also provides $765 million for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to process increasing asylum caseloads, address the immigration application backlog, and improve refugee processing.

“We urge Congress to support the President’s FY23 budget proposal while working closely with civil society to identify any gaps that can be addressed during the appropriations process,” said Giulia McPherson, Director of Advocacy and Operations. “Robust funding levels must also be accompanied by policies that meet the needs of refugees including restoring full access to asylum in the U.S. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure the U.S. is a leader on all fronts.”