WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today President Biden increased the refugee resettlement ceiling for the current fiscal year to 62,500 from its historic low of 15,000.
“From a policy perspective and a moral perspective, this is the right move,” said Ali Noorani, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. “Across the political spectrum, religious institutions, community-based organizations and families across the country stand ready to welcome refugees into their communities.”
“I applaud President Biden for his decision to increase the refugee ceiling to 62,500. Our moral and humanitarian leadership in welcoming refugees sets an example and encourages other countries to do the same,” said Elizabeth Neumann, senior advisor to the National Immigration Forum on national security and former Assistant Secretary of Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration. “That said, I urge the President to take critical next steps to fortify and improve the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and in turn, strengthen our national security.” Neumann authored a Forum paper, “Robust Refugee Programs Aid National Security,” in December.
Evangelical leaders also had urged the president to raise the ceiling. “Rhetoric is no refuge for the persecuted — we need action,” said Russell Moore, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Other evangelicals spoke out recently as well, including in op-eds in The Wall Street Journal and Relevant magazine and via a petition that more than 5,000 evangelical women have signed.