Exodus Refugee Statement on Refugee Admissions Cuts
INDIANAPOLIS – Yesterday, the Trump Administration released its plan to cut refugee resettlement to a devastating 18,000 individuals in the coming year. After two years of historic lows in the program, the President has now gone even further. This shift comes during a time when global refugee numbers have reached an all time high of 26 million, according to the U.N. This is the most aggressive blow to refugee resettlement ever, further dismantling this humanitarian program. America’s doors have always been open to people fleeing persecution, injustice, and war. Closing our doors creates an uncertain future for millions of refugees across the globe.
Further still, the President has taken an additional step to limit refugee resettlement by signing an Executive Order that will allow state and local officials to effectively veto local resettlement in their communities. Indiana has a long history of welcoming refugees and we will continue to fight for this life-saving program along with our allies.
“We have been down this road before with former-Governor Mike Pence. States are not sanctioned to block the federal refugee resettlement program and must not be given an open invitation to discriminate,” says Cole Varga, Executive Director.
Hundreds of refugees have been effectively blocked from resettling in Indianapolis during this presidency, including families who have been waiting years to reunite.
“The President’s treatment of immigrants and refugees has been unconscionable and his gutting of the humanitarian refugee program is unjustifiable. We must stand up to this hatred and defend the people impacted most by this policy, refugees seeking safety on our shores. Hoosiers have already overwhelmingly shown we want to welcome refugees. We are not going to back down now,” says Cole Varga, Executive Director.
Requests for media interviews can be sent to Sara Hindi at shindi@exodusrefugee.org.
Exodus Refugee Immigration is a nonprofit that resettles refugees in Indiana from all over the world. Since 1981, Exodus has welcomed thousands of refugees to Indiana.
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