Senators to Secretaries Rubio and Noem: “These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk”

Washington (April 3, 2025) — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee, and 17 Senators in condemning the dismantling of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), including a funding freeze that has halted refugee processing and resettlement. The indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze have stranded tens of thousands in dangerous conditions, separated families, and left recently resettled refugees in the United States without the legally required support.

“As you know, the USRAP was established on a bipartisan basis by the Refugee Act of 1980 and is a strong public-private partnership that drives U.S. economic growth, advances global stability and peace, and supports our national security and diplomatic priorities,” wrote the Senators. “The USRAP represents the best of American values and is part of what makes our country great. From 2005 to 2019, refugees contributed to the U.S. economy $123.8 billion more than they received in government expenditures. Refugees, including multiple former Secretaries of State, have shaped and improved our nation.”

President Trump suspended the USRAP “indefinitely” in a day one executive order with a review after 90 days, and on Friday, January 24, resettlement agencies received stop work orders, which the executive order defined as a “foreign assistance program.” Since then, on February 25, a federal court in Washington granted a nationwide preliminary injunction to restart refugee processing, but just 24 hours later, the State Department issued termination notices, effective immediately, to plaintiff organizations and all other resettlement agencies in attempt to circumvent the court’s order. Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted the funding freeze to stay in effect amid ongoing litigation but required resettlement to continue for refugees approved before January 20, 2025.

The Senators urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to fully comply with the federal court order, resume all refugee processing, and rebook canceled travel for refugees.

“We ask that you restart this life-saving program and immediately confirm that the Department of State is expeditiously complying with federal court orders to resume refugee resettlement and reimburse resettlement agencies for critical reception and integration services,” continued the Senators.

The Senators highlighted reports indicating that all 10 refugee agencies and many Resettlement Support Centers overseas have received termination notices for the cooperative agreements that allow them to resettle refugees, leading to mass layoffs and shutdowns of essential refugee processing systems. They also emphasized that the Administration has delayed payments to refugee agencies, despite the preliminary injunction requiring payments to resume.

The consequences of these stoppages are immense, including for Afghan allies evacuated to third countries, such as Pakistan, who are now stranded indefinitely without legal status or the ability to reunite with their families and face harassment and deportation. On February 2, an Afghan man who had worked for the U.S. military in Afghanistan was murdered after his scheduled resettlement to Garden Grove, California was delayed by the refugee ban and funding freeze.

“These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk,” wrote the Senators. “One of the most alarming consequences of the Administration’s funding and resettlement freeze is the situation facing Afghan allies who were evacuated to third countries with the promise of eventual resettlement in the United States. Many of these Afghans are former interpreters, civil society leaders, and their families, who now find themselves stranded without legal status and facing harassment, violence, and deportation.”

The Senators demanded answers regarding the refugee program suspension, refugees in the admissions pipeline, and current capacity of resettlement infrastructure.

The letter is also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

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