Press Release
Published on October 2, 2025
Washington DC — In the wake of the Trump administration’s failure to consult with Congress or issue annual goals on refugee resettlement by the September 30 statutory deadline, Human Rights First joins calls on the administration to swiftly schedule the required consultations and restart a true refugee resettlement initiative to bring to safety Afghan, Nicaraguan, Sudanese, South Sudanese, and other at-risk refugees. The failure to sign the Presidential Determination for Fiscal Year 2026, which began on October 1st, blocks any refugees from being resettled and compounds the harm felt globally by refugees impacted by the administration’s day one Refugee Ban, which remains largely in place.
“The Trump administration must end its refusal to resettle stranded refugees who face grave risks of persecution around the world,” said Eleanor Acer, Senior Director for Global Humanitarian Protection at Human Rights First. “A strong resettlement initiative is a vital lifeline for people at risk of persecution. Resettlement also advances U.S. interests by easing pressures on frontline countries that host the substantial majority of the world’s refugees, helping to promote global cooperation and stability. The Trump administration cannot avoid questions about its exclusion of thousands of at-risk refugees who had already been vetted and approved for U.S. resettlement, and its hijacking of the U.S. refugee admissions program to facilitate the migration of white Afrikaners to the United States.”
Globally, UNHCR has assessed that over 2.5 million refugees are in need of resettlement in 2026. Nearly 70 per cent of refugees find safety in the country next door to their own, and most are hosted by low- and middle-income nations. Refugees often face the threat of further persecution, violence, severe deprivations, or return to persecution while awaiting resettlement. For example, Afghan refugees left waiting years in Pakistan and other places, including those who worked with the United States or have strong U.S. ties, face escalating dangers of forced return to Taliban persecution.
Human Rights First supports Refugee Council USA’s recommendation that the U.S. resettle 125,000 refugees during fiscal year 2026, a level of commitment commensurate with the number of refugees conditionally approved by U.S. agencies and left stranded by the Trump administration’s resettlement freeze.
