Washington, DC – Today, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed President Biden's move to increase the refugee "cap" to 125,000 for Fiscal Year 2022. AILA President Allen Orr responded:
"It is heartening that President Biden increased the nation's annual refugee admissions goal. This puts America more on track toward recognizing the immense need for safety and security faced by millions across the globe. In November, AILA urged the Biden administration to recommit America to the protection of refugees in our roadmap document ‘A Vision for America as a Welcoming Nation' before the president took office. In the past eight months, however, the new administration has fallen far short of targets it set for resettling refugees. With the massive displacement in Afghanistan and continuing violence and turmoil driving refugees out of Central America and Haiti, the President should set a much higher goal for 2022 than was previously planned. AILA hopes the administration will recognize the urgency and aim to resettle 200,000 refugees which is consistent with the levels given protection during major refugee emergencies. For generations, America has welcomed refugees and benefitted from their joining the fabric of our nation. AILA urges the President to step up and meet this moment."
