The following alert has been issued by the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops
Protect Refugee Resettlement
ACT NOW and send a Message to the President and to Congress
As September 30, 2019, (the end of the fiscal year) approaches, the Trump Administration is required to announce the Presidential Determination (PD) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, which determines the number of refugees allowed to be admitted to the United States. The FY2019 PD was set at 30,000 refugees, the all-time-lowest number in the history of resettlement. Meanwhile, there are nearly 26 million refugees worldwide with 1.4 million needing resettlement.
Despite the continued global need, some in the Trump Administration are reportedly calling to "zero out" the program for FY 2020. USCCB said that zeroing out the refugee program "would be contrary to America values." The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom registered their "alarm." The Senate and House have both introduced the Guaranteed Refugee Admissions Ceiling Enhancement Act, GRACE Act, S. 1088, H.R. 2146, which would set 95,000 as the minimum PD.
As Catholics, we affirm the inherent dignity of every person and the ability of refugees to seek security and safety for themselves and family members. We continue to be deeply concerned that low admission numbers mean that refugees fleeing persecution are left in harm's way and that refugee families are left separated across the continents. For this reason, the U.S. Catholic Bishops urge you to express solidarity with refugees now in this moment of great need.
Learn more about refugees and refugee resettlement on our resource page.
TAKE ACTION
Urge President Trump:
To admit 30,000 refugees in FY19 and 95,000 in FY20.
Urge your U.S. Representative and Senators:
(1) To urge the Administration to admit 30,000 refugees in FY 19 and 95,000 in FY 20;
(2) To provide robust oversight and appropriations to achieve both goals, and
(3) To support the GRACE Act that would establish a minimum annual refugee admission goal of 95,000.
Please click here to send a message to President Trump and your U.S. Representative and Senators.
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