As the United States Resettles Fewer Refugees, Some Countries and Religions Face Bigger Hits than Others

The number of refugees resettled in the in United States from 2016 to 2019 has decreased every year, due to the policies of the Trump Administration. This commentary from the Migration Policy Institute discusses the drastic change in specific populations of admitted refugees, particularly the sharp drop in the number of Muslim refugees. US State Department data reveals an 87 percent drop in Muslim refugee admissions since 2016. Simultaneously, the share of admitted Christian refugees has soared to 79 percent of all resettled refugees in the United States. This massive shift has been propelled by Trump administration philosophy around refugee resettlement and the so-called “Muslim ban” policy implemented in 2016. The current administration has not been clear about the “enhanced security features” of the program, nor have they explained the details or outcomes of this heightened vetting. With possible further cuts to the refugee program looming, the authors urge Congress to exercise its oversight responsibility. As continuing conflicts are driving more people from their home countries, clarity of policy and procedure and effective oversight of refugee resettlement are crucial. (Olivia Pickard for The Immigrant Learning Center’s Public Education Institute)

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