Refugees and Asylum Seekers
The United States has a longstanding tradition of welcoming individuals from around the world who are seeking protection and refuge. But recent U.S. policy has grown increasingly hostile toward asylum seekers and refugees. Instead of turning vulnerable individuals away, the United States should maintain its global reputation as a leader in refugee resettlement and humanitarian protection. Doing so not only upholds American values but sustains and strengthens our communities. Data from the Council shows that refugees and asylees make tremendous contributions to our economy as earners, taxpayers, and consumers. Learn more about the contributions and challenges of asylum seekers and refugees below.
New Report Shows Immigrants and Refugees in the Minneapolis Area Paid Over $443 Million in Taxes and Held $1.2 Billion in Spending Power in 2019
Immigrants and refugees in the Minneapolis area make up 13.2 percent of business owners and 13.4 percent of STEM workers MINNEAPOLIS, MN – A new report released today by New American Economy (NAE), in partnership with the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce and the… Read More
Collecting DNA From Asylum Seekers at the Border Raises Privacy Concerns
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is collecting DNA from asylum seekers at the border, recent media reports confirm. This is the latest expansion of DNA collection as part of a program initiated under the Trump administration that targets nearly all immigrants in government custody. A growing number of noncitizens… Read More
New ‘Dedicated Docket’ Could Rush Asylum-Seeking Families Through Court
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on May 28 the creation of a new “Dedicated Docket” in immigration court for the claims of asylum-seeking families. The goal of this new “rocket docket” is to complete most new cases within 300 days. A… Read More
Statement of NAE Executive Director Jeremy Robbins on Haitian TPS Designation
Following the Biden Administration granting humanitarian protections for Haitians in the United States, New American Economy issued the following statement: “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration for granting Haitians the opportunity to gain Temporary Protected Status during a period of increasing political and humanitarian crisis,” said Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of New American… Read More
Statement from New American Economy on the Biden Administration Revising the Refugee Admissions Cap
Following the Biden Administration revising the annual refugee admissions cap, New American Economy issued the following statement: “For decades, the U.S. has led the world in refugee resettlement, offering a safe haven to people fleeing violence and persecution and a chance for them to build better lives for themselves and… Read More
Sinema and Cornyn Propose Changes to Asylum Processing at the Border
The current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border has once again exposed the flaws of our country’s asylum system. On April 22, Senators Kyrsten Sinema and John Cornyn and Representatives Tony Gonzales and Henry Cueller introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill as an effort to alleviate some of the system’s greatest deficiencies. Read More
Statement from NAE Executive Director Jeremy Robbins on the Introduction of The Bipartisan Border Solutions Act
Following the introduction of The Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, New American Economy issued the following statement: “The new immigration bill from Senators Cornyn and Sinema shows that bipartisan solutions on this issue are possible,” said Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of New American Economy. “We hope the rest of the Senate will follow… Read More
Biden’s Commitment to Refugees in Question After Flip-Flopping on Admissions Cap
Throughout his presidential campaign and after the election, Joe Biden repeatedly condemned President Trump’s decision to slash the U.S. refugee admissions level to its lowest in history. He promised to raise the number of refugees admitted to 125,000 a year. But on April 16, President Biden instead signed a… Read More
How the Biden Administration Is Responding to Unaccompanied Children, Families, and Adults at the Border
Only days after President Biden took office, some people were already declaring that the border was in a state of crisis. But recently released U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics reveal that the truth is more complicated. The Biden administration is dealing with two very different phenomena at the… Read More
Republicans Introduced 11 New Anti-Immigration Bills. Here’s What’s at Stake If They Pass.
A group of Republican lawmakers recently introduced a slew of anti-immigration bills in the House of Representatives and Senate. The bills primarily target people’s rights to seek asylum in the United States, as well as re-up a laundry list of anti-immigration initiatives from the Trump administration. Read More
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