Refugee Impact Report Rejection
Summary
On Tuesday, September 12, the Trump administration announced that it is considering limiting the number of refugees admitted into the country to less than 50,000 in 2018. Should this consideration come to fruition, it would be the lowest number of refugees admitted into the country since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980, according to the New York Times.
Following this announcement, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a draft report to the Times on the impact that refugees have on the US economy, citing that refugees bring in a collective $63 billion more in government revenues than they cost over the past ten years. The report was given to the administration in late July but never released to the public. Ultimately, the Trump administration rejected the conclusions in the report, stating that the conclusions “were delivered by someone with an ideological agenda” White House spokesperson Raj Shah told the New York Times.
Analysis
Critics speculate that the DHHS report was never released to the public (before it was leaked to the Times) because it does not serve the administration’s agenda or Trump’s promise to crack down on the number of refugees admitted to the US as part of an overhaul of the current immigration system at large. In fact, these findings go directly against Trump’s unfounded claims that refugees do more to harm the country’s economy than help it. By suppressing or discrediting facts like those found in the leaked DHHS report, American democracy suffers firsthand. An uninformed, or misinformed, public will merely position the president to implement unjust, even unconstitutional, policies, programs, and practices.
Engagement Resources
- Take Action With HAIS: HAIS is a refugee advocacy organization that provides legal protection, psychological care and resources for self-sufficiency to displaced persons in the United States. You can support the mission and vision of HAIS through volunteering, attending a local HAIS event, or donating to the organization.
- Support the International Refugee Assistance Project: IRAP, a project sponsored by the Urban Justice Center, mobilizes law students and lawyers to provide direct legal aid and advocate for public policy to protect refugees and immigrants affected by Trump’s travel ban. You can support IRAP and those affected by the travel ban by donating, signing up for action alerts, starting a local chapter, or applying for available volunteer opportunities.
- Get Involved With the American Civil Liberties Union: The ACLU is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” They have been actively involved in court cases challenging the Trump Administration on Immigration.
This brief was compiled by Allie Blum. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact allie@usresistnews.org.
