Statement on Suspension of Refugee Resettlement
Institute Statement on the Suspension of Refugee Resettlement
January 22, 2025 ─ On January 20, the Trump Administration announced the indefinite suspension of refugee resettlement to the United States through Executive Order “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program” beginning on January 27, 2025.
The International Institute of Minnesota is immensely disappointed by this action which comes at a time when the number of people forcibly displaced worldwide is at an all-time high and the justification for this suspension was not supported by the facts. The President’s executive order attributes problems in many communities with the arrival of refugees resettled through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The challenges cited in the executive order are attributable to many complex factors including a rising number of migrants seeking safety and asylum, longer processing times for employment authorization applications and immigration court backlogs. Suspending the resettlement program does not address these challenges.
Despite Monday’s action, the Institute’s work remains urgent. The Institute will continue to provide services for recent refugee arrivals who entered the U.S. before the suspension. We will also continue English classes, legal services and workforce trainings, which provide refugees and immigrants living in Minnesota with a strong start so they can become self-sufficient and thrive in their new home.
“Refugees mirror the deeply held American values of hard work, family and opportunity,” said Jane Graupman, Executive Director of the International Institute of Minnesota. “Minnesota benefits from the contributions of refugees in our communities, especially in industries and communities where workers are urgently needed.”
Who Are Refugees?
Refugees do not voluntarily leave their homes. They are forced to flee due to fear of violence, war or persecution.
Refugees are extensively vetted and resettled through a formal federal program and arrival process that began in 1980. Each year resettlement agencies develop capacity plans through consultation with local stakeholders including the State Refugee Coordinator, the Department of Health, public safety agencies and school districts. Through this collaboration, refugee admissions for localities are determined to not exceed more than a community can absorb.
Refugees receive their lawful designation prior to arrival in the United States and are immediately eligible to begin working.
Expected Impact of This Executive Order
Halting refugee resettlement will keep families living in Minnesota separated from family members abroad waiting to be resettled. It will also suspend a program that supports legal immigration and helps address our state’s workforce shortage.
One of the greatest economic challenges the Institute repeatedly hears from community leaders and employers is the lack of available workers. Refugees help Minnesota fill this gap and have a higher workforce participation rate than people born in the U.S., according to the American Immigration Council.
“Refugees want to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible, and the International Institute works with them to make that happen,” shared Graupman.
New Americans play a critical role in staffing industries where skilled labor is urgently needed. Since 1990, the Institute has placed more than 4000 refugees and immigrants in healthcare positions, including as nursing assistants and nurses in our community, providing a much-needed labor force in a field facing urgent workforce shortages. Refugees also make substantial contributions to our state and national economy as business owners, taxpayers and consumers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported in February 2024 that refugees and asylees have contributed $123.8 billion to the U.S. economy in the past 15 years.
About the International Institute of Minnesota
For over half a century, the International Institute of Minnesota has successfully welcomed more than 25,000 refugees to our state. Founded in 1919, the International Institute of Minnesota offers New Americans quality services that support their journey to stability and success. The Institute’s comprehensive offerings include refugee resettlement, English education, workforce and leadership development, college preparation and immigration and citizenship assistance. The Institute is recognized as Minnesota’s leading charitable organization dedicated to helping New Americans rebuild their lives while pursuing their personal and professional goals.
How to Help
Contributions to the International Institute of Minnesota help us fund and provide services during times of uncertainty. The Institute is grateful for the community’s support in standing with New Americans so they can find safety, stability and success. Our mission will remain possible because of the community’s generosity.