Refugees Define America
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Q & A
Q. How many refugees has the United States resettled?
A. Since 1945, approximately five million refugees have resettled in the United States from 70 countries
Q. When did the United States start accepting refugees?
A. The term refugee wasn’t defined until the mid-twentieth century, but their predecessors have been coming to American shores since the pilgrims fled religious persecution centuries prior. Legalization of refugee admissions began on December 22,1945, when President Harry S. Truman allowed for 40,000 refugees from Europe to come to the United States.
Latest News and Press Releases
June 27, 2016
By Manya-Jean Gitter
In the last two weeks, Texas has the joined the ranks of states enacting pro-refugee policies. On June 16, 2016, the United States District Court Northern District of Texas in...
June 21, 2016
Top News
World Refugee Day
Today, to mark World Refugee Day, 28 of the nation's most prominent national security leaders, retired generals and admirals, and former government...
June 20, 2016
By Elise Adams
TED Ed recently published an informational video explaining what it means to be a refugee in today’s world. The United Nations 1951 convention officially defined the term...
Pages
Resources
Factsheet | September 19, 2018
U.S.-Affiliated Iraqis and the Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program
The Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program was created for Iraqis who were employed in Iraq by or on behalf of...
Report | January 18, 2018
Punishing Refugees and Migrants:
The Trump Administration's Misuse of Criminal Prosecutions
Download
As the world continues to face the largest displacement crisis since World War II,...
Letter | February 21, 2017
The Honorable John F. Kelly
Secretary of Homeland Security
The Honorable Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State
Re: U.S. Global Leadership on Human Rights and Refugee Protection ...
Our Experts
As the director of Human Rights First’s Refugee Protection program, Eleanor Acer oversees Human Rights First’s research and advocacy on issues relating to refugee protection, asylum, and migrants’...
As Senior Associate in Refugee Protection, Olga Byrne conducts research relating to the protection of refugees, U.S. asylum law...
As Legal Director, Hardy leads and oversees management of the organization’s legal initiatives—including its pro bono legal representation, amicus brief, and legal outreach efforts...
