Refugee 2021
Critical Analysis
Based on the data from the graph above, identify one trend in refugee resettlement since 1980.
What best explains this overall trend?
What is one consequence of this trend?
Based on the data from the graph above, describe What happened to the number of refugees resettled in the US during the years of the Trump Administration.
What is the difference between a refugee and a migrant?
Who determines the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S.?
How do the demographics and beliefs of the Democratic and Republican Party explain the drastic difference in refugees resettlement under the Obama, Trump, and then Biden administration?
The month after Joe Biden took office, he pledged to increase the annual limit on the number of refugees allowed to resettle in America to 62,500. Then in April, Biden backtracked, saying that he would allow in no more than 15,000 in this fiscal year ending in September. On May 3rd, under pressure from Democrats and advocates, Mr Biden declared that he would revert to his original plan to raise this year’s limit to 62,500 (see chart above). Why do you think Biden shifted his position?
Imagine you were an advocate for increasing the number of refugees resettled in the U.S. Describe a method you might use to try to achieve your goals.
In your opinion, what obligation does the U.S. to allow refugees to resettle here and what would be the best number of refugees to allow to resettle in the U.S. this fiscal year?
The legal basis for humanitarian admissions of refugees and asylum seekers to the United States began with the Refugee Act of 1980, which defined a refugee, established the Reception and Placement (R&P) program for initial resettlement under the U.S. Department of State, and created the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The number of refugees accepted to the United States each year is set by the President in consultation with Congress that must occur before October 1 each year. How does this process illustrate the concept of checks and balances?
Learning Extension
Check out this National Immigration Forum Fact Sheet on U.S. Refugee Resettlement
Action Extension
Contact President Biden and tell him what you think about his refugee limit?
