Happening Now

On September 26, the Trump Administration announced its proposal to set the refugee admittance cap at 18,000 for Fiscal Year 2020 - a historic low. By law, the official determination cannot be made until after the president consults with certain members of congress, which may not take place until mid-to late-October because of a congressional recess. Because the current fiscal year ends on September 30, the refugee resettlement program will be shut down in the meantime. As a denomination long-committed to refugees, we oppose the administration’s proposal to drastically shrink the refugee resettlement program; we urge congress to ensure there is a full consultation with the administration on these numbers as soon as possible, and we urge the president in consultation with congressional leaders to raise the number to 95,000 for FY 2020, consistent with historic norms.