Statement: US Refugee Admissions Program Suspended
A note from the Missouri State Refugee Coordinator :
Earlier this week, the new administration issued several executive orders that directly impact immigration policy, asylum, and refugee resettlement.
One such executive order, Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program, has suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Although officially effective Monday, January 27, all previously scheduled travel of refugees to the U.S. is being cancelled, and no new travel bookings will be made. Intake of new applications for the Welcome Corps has also been suspended, as well as processing of all active or previously submitted applications.
In 90 days, the Department of Homeland Security will submit a report to the administration that evaluates the USRAP. At that time, the administration will determine whether the program will begin again or remain suspended.
This situation is tragic and, in some cases, life threatening for those refugees who have waited years in refugee camps for their opportunity to come to Missouri and rebuild their lives. However, we have also seen great swings of the pendulum over the years from robust arrivals to nearly none. If we view this as another swing, we can expect another swing back down the road yet again.
Still, during this pause, resettlement agencies and those providing wrap-around services to ORR-eligible populations have plenty of work to do supporting clients who are already here. That work is still vitally important, and MO-ORA is committed to supporting these agencies as we continue to work to create a Missouri that values and champions refugees.
There are many more details to be learned as we move forward, and questions abound: Will SIVs arrive? Will private sponsorship continue in some form? What will happen to current funding for refugee programs? What about Uniting for Ukraine? These questions and many more will be answered in the days and weeks ahead.
In the meantime, we remain committed to the clients who need our full support and breadth of services to ensure they are given the opportunity to prosper in our local communities.
Paul Costigan
Missouri State Refugee Coordinator