Publication
American Leadership on Welcoming Refugees
The United States is uniquely positioned through its political and economic might to address the conditions that foster displacement and extremism, and lead humanitarian efforts to combat them.
Immigration Policy
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
The rest of the world looks to American leadership on humanitarian immigration— the resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers. It currently represents 17% of total immigration into the United States.
By the end of 2019, 79.5 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide because of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. This includes 26 million refugees around the world—the highest number ever— along with 4.2 million asylum-seekers. Since the U.S. refugee resettlement program was founded in 1980, the United States has admitted as many as 207,000 refugees per year. The figure reached a low of 18,000 in 2020.
The asylum system is under pressure because our current immigration system provides too few opportunities for immigrants to come here legally. Additionally, the United States must provide a more efficient and timely way for asylum seekers to process through immigration court.
At a time of record global displacement of refugees, the United States must lead by example and commit to resettling refugees. Changes to the asylum process should come from Congress.
The latest
Mar 8, 2024
Dallas Morning News: Annunciation House makes the crisis at the border better, not worse
Video · Feb 29, 2024
Nonprofit organizations play a critical role along the U.S.-Mexico border
“It would be really sad to see organizations like [Annunciation House] not able to exist anymore because we know they do such a good part of the welcoming [of migrants]. And they’re an example that we can look to as a group of people that have always worked – no matter who’s in power in the United States, no matter what the immigration policies look like – they find a way to make it work. They find a way to serve people.”
Feb 9, 2024
Immigration Asked & Answered: What’s happening at the U.S.-Mexico border?
The U.S. southern border has been making news headlines the past few weeks. Immigration expert Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, breaks down what you need to know.
May 10, 2023
What does the end of Title 42 mean?
Apr 11, 2023
Crises shouldn’t cost women their dignity
Apr 3, 2023
Deadly fire at the U.S.-Mexico border exposes failures of our immigration system