TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to Reject Harmful Anti-Asylum Restrictions, Welcome Refugees & Support Newcomers During Funding Negotiations


December 4, 2023

As we enter 2024 and Congress continues to negotiate federal funding legislation for the coming year, now is a critical time to urge policymakers to rebuild capacity for refugee resettlement and equip local communities with the resources they need to welcome newcomers effectively. The House and Senate have just weeks left to pass funding legislation before deadlines on January 15 and February 2, and negotiations are ongoing regarding a suite of potential appropriations bills — including a possible supplemental funding bill, a short-term extension of FY 2023 levels (“Continuing Resolution”), and a full-year spending package.

During this critical period, join us in calling on Congress to include the reauthorization of essential benefits for Ukrainian and Afghan parolees, robust funding for programs that welcome refugees, and Afghan Adjustment legislation in any and all ongoing legislative negotiations – and reject the inclusion of harmful anti-asylum restrictions reportedly under consideration that would undermine pathways to protection for those fleeing violence and persecution.

Efforts to Undermine the Right to Asylum:  There have been multiple reports that Congress and the White House are considering a framework that includes harmful and permanent restrictions that would threaten the lives of asylum seekers. The policies in question — including heightening the asylum screening standard, a “Title 42”-like expulsion authority, and restrictions on the parole authority — would violate international law and are largely drawn from the anti-immigrant, anti-family Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2). They would tarnish any deal they are a part of and should be categorically rejected. 

Ukrainian and Afghan Access to Resettlement Benefits: In recent short-term funding extensions –  “Continuing Resolutions” – Congress has excluded extending needed resettlement and integration services for certain Ukrainians and Afghans who arrive under humanitarian parole after September 30, 2023. In the months since, thousands of vulnerable arrivals have been suddenly cut off from critical refugee and mainstream benefits, such as healthcare and food assistance, putting those we have pledged to protect at risk. In a supplemental appropriations bill or other end-of-year legislation, Congress can right this wrong by including retroactive authorization language extending access to benefits to arriving Ukrainians and Afghans.

Funding to Expand Our Capacity to Welcome: While an unprecedented 110+ million people displaced around the world, funding accounts that support refugee resettlement and welcoming communities are running dangerously low. The Biden administration has requested robust funds for key accounts like the Refugee and Entrant Assistance (REA) account, the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account, and the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account, and there is an opportunity to include funding for these accounts amid ongoing negotiations around an emergency supplemental funding bill. 

Join us in calling on Congress to support needed legislation and funding to honor our commitments to those fleeing danger while rejecting attempts to trade support for certain populations in exchange for severe anti-asylum restrictions at the border.

CONTACT YOUR TWO SENATORS AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!
On the right-hand side, you can send an email to your Members of Congress.

Sample Script/Email: “My name is [insert name], and as your constituent from [City/Town] and a [person of faith/refugee/member of my community], I urge you to welcome refugees and support newcomers in upcoming funding legislative negotiations while categorically rejecting anti-asylum restrictions or any efforts to trade the rights and protections of one vulnerable population in exchange for assistance to another. 

Specifically, as Congress negotiates upcoming spending legislation, I urge you to:

  • Include retroactive authorization language that supports those fleeing Ukraine and Afghanistan who have suddenly been cut off from services. I urge you to support language included in the supplemental request and December 5 Senate supplemental bill that extends access to certain Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) benefits for Ukrainians arriving after September 30th via humanitarian parole, including those entering through the Uniting for Ukraine program. I further urge you to retroactively authorize Afghan humanitarian parolees who arrive after September 30th to be eligible for full refugee resettlement benefits. 
  • Replenish funding for key refugee accounts and prevent historic cuts to programs that support welcoming communities. With record forced displacement around the world, programs and communities supporting newcomers are in dire need of additional support. Whether in in a potential emergency supplemental, a Continuing Resolution, or a full-year spending bill I urge you to support robust additional resources for the Refugee and Entrant Assistance Account (REA), for the Migration and Refugee Assistance account (MRA), for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and for the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), as included in the December 5 Senate Supplemental bill and the President’s October supplemental request. For full funding recommendations see https://bit.ly/RCUSAFY24FundingNeeds 
  • Reject efforts to undermine asylum or trade away pathways to humanitarian protection. I urge you to oppose the inclusion of any asylum policy restrictions in a supplemental funding bill or other funding vehicle, including alterations to the credible fear standard, dramatic expansion of expedited removal, implementation of a “Title 42”-like emergency expulsion authority, restrictions on parole, and any provisions drawn from the anti-immigrant, anti-family Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2). These policies would return vulnerable asylum seekers to danger and do nothing to manage the challenges we face at the border. Asylum seekers’ lives should never be used as a political bargaining tool. 

Welcoming newcomers is part of what makes this country and our community strong. Thank you.”

AMPLIFY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Share this message with national leaders on social media! See below for sample social media posts. 

  • @legislator: Recent asylum-related budget proposals in Congress:
    – Violate international law
    – Disproportionately harm Black and Brown asylum seekers
    – Return asylum seekers to danger & persecution
    Urge @POTUS to reject these proposals and #RestoreAsylum
  • @legislator it’s a fact: Refugees make our communities strong. It is critical for Congress to invest in welcoming programs that allow newcomers to integrate and thrive. #RefugeesWelcome
  • @legislator Three ways you can invest in our capacity to welcome:
    – Support overseas refugee assistance accounts
    – Support funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement
    – Reauthorize benefits for Afghans and Ukrainians
  • @legislator The billions of dollars Congress gives to ICE and CBP enforcement should instead be directed towards programs that welcome the newcomer and accompany the vulnerable!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Refugee Funding

Analysis of Asylum Proposals

Ukrainian and Afghan Benefits Reauthorization

Policy Asks and Analysis

Press Statements and Social Media