June 20, 2025

Dear John

Each year on June 20, World Refugee Day offers a moment to recognize the experiences of the millions of people who have been displaced across borders due to conflict, persecution, or disaster. Their journeys are rarely straightforward, and the systems that aim to protect them are often under strain.

At the Migration Policy Institute, we mark this day by doubling down on our mission to produce reliable, nonpartisan analysis and data that inform effective migration and refugee protection systems. As displacement continues to reach historic highs, the need for evidence-informed research and analysis has never been greater.

• Our recent short read, Can Innovation Help Blunt the Impact of Foreign Aid Cuts on Migration Management Programs?, explores possible future scenarios amid declining international aid.
• The report The End of Asylum? Evolving the Protection System to Meet 21st Century Challenges examines how traditional asylum systems are struggling to keep up with today’s realities, including rising displacement and mixed migration.
• Is return likely for Syrian refugees in the post-Assad chapter now being written in Syria and for Ukrainian refugees spread across Europe? We take a look here and here.  
• Our Migration Data Hub tools shed light on the scope of displacement, including which countries host the most refugees and U.S. refugee admissions over time.
• For a snapshot of trends in the United States, visit our Migration Information Source article on Refugees and Asylees in the United States.

This World Refugee Day, join us as we support efforts to provide safety, dignity, and opportunity for all those displaced by conflict and persecution.

We appreciate your engagement with our work. If you find it useful, please consider making a contribution.

Sincerely,

Michelle Mittelstadt
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Migration Policy Institute

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