Washington, D.C. – Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires that the President—by today, September 30—set the number of refugees that will be admitted to the country during the upcoming fiscal year, after a consultation with Members on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. This year, the Administration has neither scheduled a consultation, nor set the number of refugees that will be admitted in fiscal year 2021. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released the following statement in response:
“For the third year in a row, this Administration is in violation of the immigration laws, specifically the refugee program requirements added by the Refugee Act of 1980. This President has shown on countless occasions that he believes he is above the law. This time, refugees—including many who served alongside our troops—will be the victims of the Trump Administration’s lawless approach. The Administration’s violations will bring our refugee admissions program to a halt, leaving thousands stranded abroad with their lives at risk.”
“For more than a decade, Republican and Democratic administrations have recognized the importance of the refugee admissions program, consistently holding a consultation and finalizing the refugee determination prior to the end of the fiscal year. This year, the Administration has failed to take any steps to set the number of refugees that will be admitted next year and has placed a moratorium on refugee admissions until October 26. We need to restore the refugee program and our moral authority around the world.”
