70% drop in refugees admitted into the United States under Trump

Geller Report: There is a 72% drop of refugees admitted into the United States under President Trump. Refugees – totaling 27,975 – were admitted during Trump’s first year. But 99,275 refugees were admitted during Obama’s last year.¹ Totals exclude Asylums² and Special Immigrant Visas.³

The drop of refugees is attributed to Trump’s rhetoric. Despite legal challenges, the last relevant Executive Order ⁶ required a brief suspension of entry by certain travelers “to conduct a 120-day review ⁷ of the USRAP [United States Refugee Admissions Program] application and adjudication process … to determine, and implement, additional procedures to ensure that individuals seeking admission as refugees do not pose a threat to [our] … security and welfare.”

An ad hoc approach to refugee admissions and resettlement was intended via the Refugee Act (1980), amending the Immigration and Nationality Act (1952).⁸

Who is a refugee?

A “person who is outside…[his] country…, and who is unable or unwilling to return…because of persecution or a well-founded fear [thereof]…on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a…social group, or political opinion.” In consult with Congress, the President may specify a person (or class).⁸

Taxpayers’ burden for refugees’ “room and board”

In his earlier Executive Order,⁹ Trump requires two reports from the State Dept: (1) “a report detailing the estimated long-term costs of the USRAP … with recommendations … to curtail those costs”; and (2) “a report estimating how many refugees are being supported in countries of first asylum (near their home countries) for the same long-term cost as supporting refugees in the United States.” ¹⁰

Refugee Processing and Resettlement has cost (FY17), and will cost (FY18), estimated more than a billion dollars for each fiscal year.¹² Last year (FY17), add social and medical services, the final cost is more than two billion dollars ¹³ in the Refugee and Entrant Assistance account.

Refugees are eligible for federal public assistance, such as:  READ MORE