On July 12, 2017, after resettling 50,000 refugees this year, the United States hit the cap in refugee admissions set by President Trump’s March 6 executive order. This is the lowest number of refugee admissions ever set by the executive branch. Naureen Shah, senior director of campaigns at Amnesty International USA, released the following statement.
“As a result of the Trump administration’s cruel agenda to ban refugees from entering the country, thousands of vulnerable people fleeing war and violence from all over the world are in heightened danger. Many of the 26,000 refugees who have already undergone vetting and been approved to come to the U.S. to live could be left stranded because of the administration’s narrow interpretation of the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the ban. The United States is turning its back on people who are fleeing some of the world’s most desperate situations.
“The U.S. has historically helped people rebuild their lives, and in return, they’ve helped revitalize towns, businesses and the economy. The Trump Administration’s ban has led to senseless new barriers, which abandons grandmothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, and even children orphaned by war to certain danger. Congress must not let this bigoted policy stand. It must nullify the Muslim and refugee ban once and for all.”
