United States

Advocacy for United States

What’s Happening?

The United States established its contemporary refugee resettlement and asylum system in 1980 and, in the decades that followed, developed further protection pathways for migrants, particularly for children, victims of crimes, and people from countries in grave crisis. Since 2021, investment and innovation has led to an expansion of the refugee resettlement system. In contrast, the U.S. asylum system has become increasingly arbitrary because of limits on access and eligibility unrelated to the merits of claims and a refusal to invest and reform procedures to make them fair and timely. 

What Must Be Done?

Refugees International is calling on the United States to end its enforcement approach to asylum at the border and expand pathways to protection to additional forcibly displaced people. After arrival, asylum seekers should not be detained in prisons but rather given prompt ability to work and needed services and support.