On World Refugee Day, the United States reaffirms its longstanding tradition as a beacon of hope for refugees and persecuted people globally. "We are committed to standing with the millions of refugees worldwide who have been forced to flee violence and persecution," stated Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State, on June 20, 2024. He also expressed gratitude towards generous host communities, vital humanitarian partners, and private sponsors supporting these individuals.
In FY 2024, the United States has welcomed over 65,000 refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and is on track to welcome the most refugees in a single year in the program's modern history. Blinken highlighted that "refugees make significant positive political, social, and economic contributions to their host and resettlement communities around the world." From 2005-2019, refugees contributed almost $124 billion to the growth of the U.S. economy.
The Administration has continued efforts to rebuild and strengthen USRAP with support from resettlement agencies, resettlement support centers, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Americans across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico have formed sponsorship groups under USRAP’s private sponsorship program Welcome Corps. More than 87,000 Americans have signed up to welcome refugees into their communities.
Additionally, through the Safe Mobility Initiative launched last year, more than 30,000 refugees from South and Central America have been approved for resettlement in communities across the United States, Canada, and Spain. This initiative aims to help refugees integrate into host communities worldwide by providing access to services and information without undertaking dangerous journeys.
The Department of State coordinates with governments, multilateral partners, and the private sector through its Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to support refugees with life-saving humanitarian assistance. Blinken emphasized that "responsibility sharing is essential to meet humanitarian needs so that all people can live with hope and dignity." He concluded by affirming that no single country can respond alone to forced displacement impacts: "The United States stands together with our partners and refugee communities on this day to honor and support forcibly displaced people around the world."
