Presidents’ Alliance Urges Administration To Reconsider Insufficient Refugee Cap of 18,000

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE STATEMENT

PRESIDENTS’ ALLIANCE URGES ADMINISTRATION TO RECONSIDER INSUFFICIENT REFUGEE CAP OF 18,000

Meager cap contravenes nation’s historic commitment to helping the vulnerable

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2019
Contact: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org) 

Washington, D.C.—Last Thursday, the administration announced that the new FY2020 refugee ceiling will be set at a record low of 18,000. This is the lowest cap since the inception of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in 1980 and woefully inadequate to meet the urgent needs of the global refugee crisis. According to UNHCR, over 70.8 million individuals have been displaced worldwide, including 25.9 million refugees, and still only three percent (up from one percent) of refugees are able to access higher education. The 18,000 refugee cap represents an abdication of the United States’ leadership role in assisting displaced and persecuted people.

Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director of Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, stated: “Refugee students and scholars have made crucial contributions to our nation’s higher education. Higher education institutions have welcomed refugees and their families onto their campuses and into their communities, embracing the diversity of perspectives and multiethnic backgrounds. We cannot close the doors of our nation’s colleges and universities, especially to those scholars, students, and families fleeing persecution, oppression, and armed conflict. Our campuses and our nation are richer because of refugees. We call upon the administration to revisit and dramatically increase the proposed refugee cap.”

The nonpartisan Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings together college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities, and supporting policies that create a welcoming environment for undocumented, immigrant, and international students. The Alliance is comprised of over 430 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, representing over four million students in 41 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

##