Senate Resolution Calls to Restore Refugee Program, Citing 123 Million Displaced Persons Globally

This resolution, coming from the Senate, is essentially a strong policy statement that pushes back hard against recent restrictions on the U.S. refugee and asylum systems. It doesn't create new law, but it lays out exactly why the U.S. should fully restore the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), uphold international commitments, and provide more humanitarian aid. The core message is clear: the U.S. needs to step up its game on global displacement, especially since the number of people forced from their homes worldwide hit a staggering 123 million at the end of 2024.

The Global Crisis and the American Response

The resolution starts by putting the crisis into sharp focus. That 123 million figure? That’s more people displaced than ever recorded, including over 31 million refugees. The text notes that most of these people are hosted by lower-income nations, and fewer than 1% ever get resettled in countries like ours. This context is critical because it frames the U.S. role not just as humanitarian, but as part of an international burden-sharing effort. For the average American, this means that U.S. policy decisions have global ripple effects, impacting stability in regions dealing with massive influxes of people, such as the 8.8 million displaced Ukrainians or the 14.3 million displaced Sudanese.

Pushing Back on Recent Policy Shifts

A major focus of this resolution is the direct criticism of specific, restrictive actions taken recently. It calls out Executive Order 14163, issued in January 2025, which indefinitely suspended all refugee admissions. The resolution highlights the real-world impact of this decision: over 100,000 conditionally approved refugees—people who have already passed medical and security screenings—are now stranded. Imagine having your flight booked, your life packed, only to have the door slammed shut at the last minute. The resolution demands that President Trump end this suspension and fully restore resettlement. It also condemns the termination of the community-based Welcome Corps sponsorship initiative, which allowed everyday Americans to help integrate new arrivals, effectively cutting off a valuable community pipeline for resettlement.

Why This Matters for Your Wallet and Security

The resolution isn't just about soft power or humanitarian ideals; it makes a pragmatic case for refugee resettlement. It explicitly mentions a study showing that refugees and asylees contributed an estimated $581 billion in total revenue to all levels of government between 2005 and 2019. This means that welcoming refugees isn't just charity; it's an economic investment that pays dividends through labor, taxes, and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the Senate reaffirms that the USRAP is a "crucial tool for strengthening national and regional security," arguing that robust vetting and orderly resettlement are better than leaving vulnerable populations in limbo.

Directives for Federal Leadership

The resolution calls on the Secretaries of State, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, along with the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, to take concrete steps. These include maintaining U.S. leadership in humanitarian aid, working to prevent conflicts that cause displacement, and supporting the UNHCR and NGOs worldwide. Crucially, they are told to "meet robust refugee admissions goals." While that term 'robust' is vague and lacks a specific number, it signals the Senate's intent for the administration to significantly increase the pace of admissions. This push is about ensuring the U.S. fulfills its commitments made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, including addressing barriers for refugees with disabilities and upholding the principle of non-refoulement—the legal obligation not to send people back to a country where they face persecution.