The following is a statement from Jewish Vocational Service released after the announcement last week that the United States will allow 18,000 refugees to resettle in Fiscal Year 2020.
Refugee resettlement in the United States was dealt a tremendous blow with the news on Thursday, Sept. 26, that the White House intends to admit only 18,000 refugees in the coming fiscal year, the lowest ceiling in U.S. history. Last year, the president set the number at 30,000, Historically, the program has averaged an admissions ceiling of 95,000.
To slam the door on persecuted people while the number of refugees displaced globally continues to rise to historic levels upends decades of bipartisan tradition. It also abandons thousands of families in need of resettlement, leaving them in precarious, often life-threatening situations. Refugee resettlement assures that at least some of those forced to flee their homes have a safe and legal pathway to refuge in the United States. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is a crucial element of our nation’s humanitarian, foreign policy and national security strategies and reflects American history and values.
Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) has a proud 70-year history of welcoming refugees to Kansas City, starting with supporting Holocaust survivors in the aftermath of World War II and continuing to its work today helping families from across the globe who are fleeing persecution and are seeking a safe haven through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
In our work across the Kansas City metropolitan area, we see strong support for refugee resettlement among community volunteers, local employers, faith-based partners and civic institutions. Refugees strengthen our communities and our country socially, culturally, and economically. Despite these lower numbers, JVS will continue to help resettled refugees rebuild their lives, and our community will continue to reap the tremendous benefits of being a place of welcome.
We oppose the White House’s plan to drastically lower refugee admissions because it condemns so many to endless suffering. In the coming weeks, the president will consult Congress before making a final determination of the refugee ceiling. Join us to urge our leaders to return to traditional refugee admissions levels. With your help, JVS will continue to educate policymakers and the public about the economic, moral and cultural contribution we gain by providing support and welcome so every member of our society can thrive.
