Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order suspending the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), effective January 27th, 2025.
The US Refugee Resettlement program has been a cornerstone of our nation’s immigration policy since 1980, receiving bipartisan support and serving as a testament to our country’s foundation of humanitarian assistance. Each year, the United States welcomes a small group of refugees – individuals and families who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to war, persecution, and violence. Before refugees are resettled in the United States, they undergo an extensive security screening process, a collaboration between domestic and international agencies. This rigorous vetting is a hallmark of the most secure form of legal immigration to the United States.
Suspending the USRAP leaves the thousands of refugees already cleared for resettlement stranded, many of whom are seeking reunification with family members in the United States. Our hearts are broken for the families who have waited patiently to see their loved ones again, and for all those in need of humanitarian relief around the world who now face an uncertain future.
Refugees have a significant positive economic impact in the United States, generating tens of billions of dollars of revenue for communities across the country. In Middle Tennessee, employers will lose access to the refugee talent pool that helps to fuel economic growth in a wide variety of industries. The potential negative economic impact of this executive order may be significant, as we face a nationwide labor shortage.
Over these past two decades, NICE has seen thousands of lives be transformed through our resettlement program. The families we serve are courageous, resilient, hard-working, and kind. They contribute to the cultural and economic richness of our city, region, state, and nation. They love this country, and the promise of hope it offers. You can view some of those inspiring stories here.
We urge President Trump’s administration to examine the humanitarian, economic, and moral merits of the refugee admissions program and reinstate it as soon as possible. We call on our state and local officials to advocate for their communities, which have been enriched by the contributions of refugees.
For 20 years, NICE has served New Americans as they begin the newest chapter of their lives in the United States. We remain steadfast in our commitment to this work of serving refugees. We will continue to stand with the New American community by providing programs and services that create pathways to cultural integration, economic success, and prosperity.