AJC Decries Cuts in U.S. Refugee Program

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Sep 18, 2018, 15:30 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AJC is deeply disappointed by Secretary of State Pompeo's announcement that the total number of refugees allowed into the United States will be reduced to 30,000 in FY 2019.

"The severe diminution of the U.S. refugee program is at odds with core American values, let alone policy that for decades has established our country as an exemplar for welcoming those refugees fleeing documented persecution and fearing for their lives," said AJC CEO David Harris. "At a time when the number of refugees is increasing around the world, this Administration decision is especially regrettable."

The new cap is a one-third cut from the current year allocation of 45,000, though only 20,000 refugees had been admitted to the U.S. by the end of August. It is the lowest number since 1980, when Congress passed the Refugee Act and set up the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). That year 207,000 refugees were admitted to the U.S.

Today, according to the UN Refugee Agency, there are more than 25 million refugees worldwide, and another 40 million internally displaced in their own countries.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee