Afghan crisis shines light on refugee resettlement program’s inadequacies

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW), a 501(c)3 organization in Arizona is advocating for the expansion and stabilization of refugee resettlement in the United States. In collaboration with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), 675 letters from community members were collected in support of stabilizing the national refugee resettlement program. 

Each year, the president determines how many refugees can arrive in the United States. Numbers have fluctuated greatly since the start of the program, which weakens the resettlement network. Since the start of the refugee resettlement program in 1980, the US has resettled an average of 95,000 refugees per year. Last year, while the official cap was set at 18,000, the U.S. welcomed fewer than 12,000 people – much less than any year prior. Resettlement networks were decimated by the administration’s choices. Now with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the U.S. refugee resettlement system is weak and overwhelmed.

“We can never fully anticipate the humanitarian needs of the world. We need to support the GRACE Act now so that in the future, we have a greater capacity to help people in crisis,” says Connie Phillips, President and CEO Of Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. She delivered letters in support of the GRACE Act to Senator Sinema’s office, Senator Kelly’s office, and multiple Congressional Representatives this week.

The GRACE Act, or Guaranteed Refugee Admissions Ceiling Enhancement Act, would protect and restore the U.S. refugee resettlement program by setting a minimum refugee admissions goal of no less than 125,000 and increasing congressional oversight of the administration’s operations of the resettlement program. The bill, H.R. 2237 was reintroduced on March 26, 2021 by Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). Historically, the cap on resettlement has fluctuated between a high of 231,700 at the start of the program and a low of 18,000 in 2020.

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) was founded in 1970 to meet immediate needs. LSS-SW’s mission is to stabilize lives in times of crisis and transition, build a foundation where people can thrive, and preserve dignity and respect for the most vulnerable. To learn more and get involved with the work of LSS-SW, please visit www.lss-sw.org.

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) is a joint ministry of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. LAMA was created to advocate for justice in the areas of hunger, poverty, community-based senior support, care of God’s creation and other urgent social issues by speaking with and for those who have little or no political power. Representing nearly 25,000 Lutherans in Arizona, LAMA works with nearly 100 ministry sites in the state to create awareness and advocate on these issues. Learn more about LAMA and get involved in advocacy at www.lamaz.org. 

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If you would like more information, please call Heidi Urbina at (520) 668-4916 or email hurbina@lss-sw.org

Additional Information

We are experiencing a global refugee crisis. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are over 79.5 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, over 26 million of which are refugees and half of whom are children. Fewer than 1% of the world’s refugees are ever resettled. To be considered for resettlement, a refugee must receive a refugee status determination from the UNHCR and prove persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group membership. Arizona has welcomed an average of 3,400 refugees each year since 2009, and hit a historic low in 2020, resettling only 446 refugees last year.

If a refugee is selected for resettlement in the United States, they undergo the most extensive security screening and vetting process of any refugee, including health screening. Refugee resettlement is a strong bipartisan tradition that reflects American values. Presidents of both parties have used refugee admissions to support those who seek religious and political liberty and reject oppression.

Currently, the number of refugees admitted each fiscal year may not exceed 50,000 unless the President determines that a higher number is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.