USCRI Detroit

Today, the White House announced an FY2026 refugee admissions goal of only 7,500—the lowest since the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program began.

USCRI is deeply disappointed. At a time when over 123 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, this decision undermines decades of bipartisan support for U.S. refugee resettlement and disregards global calls for increased protection and compassion.

“We urge the Administration to maintain and strengthen its historic leadership,” said Eskinder Negash, USCRI President & CEO, “by supporting refugees who have safely resettled in American communities and the thousands more who have already been conditionally approved for resettlement and are waiting overseas to be processed.”

USCRI will continue to advocate for displaced populations around the world who urgently need safety and protection. Read the full statement at https://bit.ly/4qziUOC

Starting November 1, 2025, new federal rules will strip refugees, asylees, survivors of human trafficking, and other noncitizens of access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—the program that helps over 40 million Americans put food on the table.

This change, part of H.R. 1 (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”), means that families who came to the U.S. for safety will soon be left without food assistance. Refugee parents will struggle to feed their children. Asylees will face impossible choices between food and family reunification. Survivors of trafficking and violence will lose critical support while rebuilding their lives.

SNAP is more than food — it’s dignity, stability, and economic strength for local communities. Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 in local economic activity. Cutting off access hurts us all.

Here’s what you can do:
🍎 Donate or volunteer with your local food bank.
🤝 Volunteer with your local refugee office.
📞 Call your local, state, and federal representatives — tell them to protect access to food for all.
💙 Support USCRI as we help refugees and immigrants bridge the gap and advocate for change.

What are you doing to help people in your community impacted by SNAP cuts? Tell us below in the comments. Learn more about how H.R. 1 impacts refugee and immigrant communities: https://bit.ly/49cCMRJ

On March 25, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the revocation of humanitarian parole protections for individuals covered under the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole program.

Humanitarian parole allows individuals outside the U.S. to enter temporarily due to urgent humanitarian needs. This decision leaves over 530,000 CHNV parolees without their legal status and facing deportation starting April 24.

"The mass revocation of parole status through the Federal Register notice creates unnecessary chaos and uncertainty for people who were granted humanitarian protection in the United States," says USCRI President & CEO Eskinder Negash.

Read our full statement: https://bit.ly/4l1sbMM

This week marks the 45th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980—a bipartisan effort to address the needs of victims fleeing persecution. Since its passage, over 3 million refugees have resettled in the U.S., including more than 400,000 welcomed by USCRI.

“Beside the law, resettling refugees is our moral duty… It is a duty owed not only to the stranger in need, but a duty we owe to ourselves, for the sake of our own humanity.” – USCRI President & CEO Eskinder Negash

On this anniversary, USCRI urges Congress to once again protect the uprooted victims of persecution.

Read our full statement at: https://bit.ly/4kKclWO

On January 20, DHS issued an order revoking long-standing “sensitive” zone policies, allowing immigration enforcement actions in places once considered off-limits—schools, hospitals, places of worship, and other critical spaces. This decision not only puts immigrant populations at risk but also threatens the well-being of entire communities by disrupting essential environments and fueling fear.

“This decision not only disregards the dignity and rights of immigrants but also undermines the social fabric that binds our nation together. Schools are places of learning, hospitals are places of healing, and houses of worship are sanctuaries of faith and solace. Turning them into sites of enforcement actions sends a chilling message that these values are less important than immigration enforcement,” said USCRI President & CEO Eskinder Negash.

USCRI stands in solidarity with immigrant families, educators, healthcare professionals, faith leaders, and community advocates affected by this change.
Read the full statement at: https://bit.ly/3EiSUDz