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.
The White House Has Slashed Refugee Admissions to Record Lows
The White House announced late last week that for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, beginning Oct. 1, 2017, the United States will only admit a maximum number of 45,000 refugees. This represents the lowest refugee admissions ceiling ever set by the U.S. government, despite record numbers of forced… Read More
Travel Ban 3.0: What You Need To Know
Just as the Trump administration’s 90-day ban on travel from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire, it announced the third version of its travel ban Sunday evening. This latest version expands the list of targeted countries to eight and imposes indefinite and potentially permanent bans on entry… Read More
Increasing Numbers of Pregnant Women Facing Harm in Detention
The American Immigration Council, in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), and others filed this complaint on behalf of numerous women who are or were pregnant and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The complaint, filed with DHS’s… Read More
U.S. Immigration Officials Frequently Use Coercive Tactics to Deport Mexican Migrants
U.S. immigration officials have a long history of overstepping the boundaries of their legal authority and violating the constitutional and other legal rights of migrants at the Southwest border. Allegations of abuse throughout the apprehension, detention, and deportation process are not new; immigrant rights organizations and media outlets have… Read More
Supreme Court Restores a Portion of Trump’s Travel Ban, In Continuous Chess Match
In a unanimous decision, the Ninth Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision on Friday in Hawaii v. Trump, allowing extended family members as well as certain refugees to enter the United States. In doing so, the court rejected the Trump administration’s interpretation of the Supreme Court’s June decision… Read More
Temporary Protected Status: An Overview
This fact sheet provides an overview of how Temporary Protected Status designations are made, what benefits TPS confers, and how TPS beneficiaries apply for and regularly renew their status. Read More
Settlement Reached With Government Over Access to Mental Health Evaluations in Family Detention Centers
Nothing is a better predictor of an immigrant’s success in their immigration case, than whether or not they have access to competent legal assistance. However, the U.S. Government has at times made the hurdles to enlisting legal help insurmountable. One such example came in March 2017, when Immigration and… Read More
Pastor Shares the Gospel’s View on ‘Welcoming the Stranger’
Carson Rogers is a politically conservative Southern Baptist pastor—affiliations that firmly influence his feelings about immigrants and refugees. He believes equally in effective law enforcement and compassion toward human beings. “Jesus was an immigrant,” says Pastor Rogers. “Shortly after he was born, Herod put out a decree that all the… Read More
ICE Settles Case Challenging Interference with Legal Representation at Dilley
The parties in Dilley Pro Bono Project v. ICE have reached a settlement that ensures access to mental health evaluations for certain detained mothers and children seeking asylum. Read More
After Years of Waiting and Working, a Refugee Has the Chance to Give Back
Every day, Honey Omar wakes up excited to go to work. “It’s never a dull moment,” says Omar, a refugee case manager at YMCA International Services in Houston, Texas. Omar herself is a refugee. Born in Somalia, she came to the United States with her family in 2015 after having… Read More
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