Refugees become casualties of war on terror

In session
September 2003

SOA Watch lobby day is September 23
Refugees become casualties of war on terror

Refugees become casualties of war on terror
The United States Refugee Resettlement program remains in crisis, says the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops Office of Migration and Refugee Services. "As we feared last year, the record low levels of admissions of refugees in FY 2002 have continued in FY 2003." According to the office, in 2003 the Bush administration authorized the admission of 70,000 refugees: 50,000 from specific regions of the world and 20,000 designated as an "unallocated reserve." Yet as of August 22nd, almost eleven months into the fiscal year, only 22,545 had been allowed into the United States—40 percent as many as had arrived during the same period in 2001.

President Bush will soon announce the Presidential Determination for refugee admissions in FY 2004. The USCCB is concerned that the administration may lower the ceiling to 50,000 with only 30,000 of those allocated to specific regions. "If this happens, it will deal the U.S. Refugee Program a blow from which it may never recover. That would spell disaster for at-risk refugees everywhere."

Action requested by USCCB
Refugee advocates around the country had designated Wednesday, August 27, 2003 a national "fax-in" day to urge President Bush to authorize at least 90,000 refugees for admission in FY 2004 and stop the refugee resettlement program from continuing in a catastrophic downward spiral.

If you were unable to send the fax that day, it is still not too late. Your opinions and your organization's opinions matter to the president and those in the White House who advise him. Let the Administration know that the dwindling numbers of admitted refugees have not gone unnoticed. Please pass this message along to any other individual or organization you know who cares about this issue.

Send your fax to President Bush at (202) 456-2461.

Sample Letter
The following is a sample of a fax you may wish to send to President Bush regarding the refugee admissions crisis. Feel free to change or modify it to reflect your individual experiences and opinions, or simply send it unchanged in its entirety. The most important thing is that the President knows that you care about this issue.

________________________________

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to urge you to restore America's leadership and your Administration's commitment to people fleeing persecution and oppression by pledging to admit 90,000 refugees to the United States in your FY 2004 Presidential Determination.

Refugees enrich our country and our communities, both economically and culturally. They bring courage, hope, and diversity to communities across America. Helping refugees begin their new lives here has brought the American dream home to the many people in our communities—volunteers, resettlement agency staff, teachers, employers, and many others—who help make the refugee program possible. Admitting refugees also sends the world a clear signal that America remains steadfast in her commitment to freedom, justice, and opportunity.

The tragic events of September 11, 2001 prompted a temporary suspension of the U.S. refugee resettlement program and the welcome introduction of additional procedures to ensure that the program is secure. But nearly two years later, refugee admissions remain alarmingly low.

Your Administration has consistently affirmed its commitment to the Refugee Resettlement Program and the protection it affords victims of persecution. As recently as July 15, 2003, Secretary Powell wrote, "The Department of State is committed to a generous and robust refugee admissions program. The United States should make every effort to achieve the resettlement target set by the President." Yet by the end of July, ten months into the current fiscal year, barely 20,500 refugees had arrived in the United States—only 29 percent of the 70,000 you authorized.

What should have been a temporary reduction in refugee admissions while new security measures were put in place has now become a two-year curtailing of the program. Every effort must be made now to reverse this decline, the program—and the refugees whose lives depend on it—could suffer for years to come.

Mr. President, the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program provides a lifeline to a very limited number of the world's 13 million refugees. Please ensure that the United States continues to provide this lifeline fully and effectively to these most vulnerable of the vulnerable by authorizing 90,000 refugee admissions in FY 2004.

Respectfully,

Back to page top