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Advocacy Now is USCRI’s segment with the Latest Advocacy Updates in 2025.
Executive Orders Summary:
USCRI Summary of January 20 Executive Orders [Download]
Read here the latest updates from the White House.
On January 20, the Administration announced an indefinite suspension of refugee resettlement starting on January 27, 2025. Refugees will be blocked from entering the country indefinitely despite having been thoroughly vetted and approved for travel. Through Executive Order “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” the Administration also announced that it will suspend decisions on […]
On January 20, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive rescinding “sensitive” zone policies, which have long shielded schools, hospitals, houses of worship, and other critical spaces from immigration enforcement actions. These policies have ensured that individuals—regardless of their immigration status—can access education, healthcare, and religious services without fear. Their removal not […]
On January 28, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) took the first steps in implementing the Administration’s executive order directing the termination of all categorical humanitarian parole programs. “Humanitarian parole” allows individuals outside of the United States to enter the United States on a temporary basis due to an urgent humanitarian need, such as a […]
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) is dismayed by the Administration’s revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela. Just weeks ago, on January 10, 2025, an extension for TPS was announced, and on January 17, 2025, it was published to the Federal Register—only to be abruptly rescinded. TPS is a lifesaving humanitarian […]
On January 24, the U.S. Department of State ordered the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants to stop all work performed under its Reception and Placement grant for refugee resettlement. Other organizations received similar notices. This “stop work” order from the State Department is a devastating development for refugees who are already in the United […]
On January 20, 2025, the White House released a series of Executive Orders that regress the immigration system with immediate impact on refugees and immigrants. The new orders display a renouncement of the United State’s role as a stronghold of safety and protection for the displaced. The following is a summary of six Executive Orders […]
USCRI Denounces the Expansion of Expedited Removal: A Threat to Due Process and American Communities
On January 20, the Administration announced that it would take all appropriate action to ensure the efficient removal of undocumented immigrants from the United States. In this Executive Order, the Administration announced that it would expand the use of expedited removal within the broadest framework of the law. Since its enactment in 1996, expedited removal has […]
The Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement will exacerbate the climate emergency. As temperatures rise and large swathes of land become unhabitable, more and more people will be driven from their homes, forced to seek safety elsewhere. For the increasing numbers of people who will find themselves fleeing climate-related environmental disasters, there […]
On January 20, the Administration announced it would take all legally available action to ensure that federal funds are withheld from sanctuary jurisdictions—municipalities that adopt policies aimed at enhancing public safety and trust by limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. This action undermines public safety, erodes trust in local government, and jeopardizes essential services individuals […]
On January 20, the Administration directed the U.S. government to stop issuing U.S. citizenship documents, including passports, to children born to parents who are in the United States unlawfully or temporarily. Executive Order “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” ends U.S. birthright citizenship and is set to strip nationality rights from children who […]
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Updates from the White House
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On February 4, 2025, the Administration issued an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and to cease funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The order mandates a review of U.S. membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a comprehensive assessment of all international organizations and treaties to determine their alignment with U.S. interests.
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On February 5, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued guidance building on a January 20 executive order, which directed DOJ employees to halt all grants to “sanctuary jurisdictions” that do not comply with federal immigration laws. In the memo, the DOJ stated that it will pause the distribution of all funds until a review has been completed, terminate any agreements that are in violation or are the source of waste, fraud, or abuse, and initiate clawback or recoupment procedures, where appropriate.
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On February 6, the Administration issued a memorandum directing executive departments and agencies to review all funding provided to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The memorandum mandates that future funding decisions align with U.S. interests and the Administration’s priorities, aiming to cease support for NGOs that undermine national security, prosperity, or safety.
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On February 6, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) issued Policy Memorandum 25-20, rescinding Memorandum 23-02, which provided guidance to ensure language access for noncitizens with limited English proficiency in immigration courts. The new memorandum states that the agency will instead rely on the updated Department of Justice Language Access Plan revised in January 2025.
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On February 7, the Administration issued an executive order halting all U.S. aid to South Africa in response to the country’s Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, which permits the government to seize agricultural property from “ethnic minority Afrikaners” without compensation. The order also directs the prioritization of humanitarian relief and resettlement efforts for Afrikaners facing “unjust racial discrimination,” including property confiscation, in South Africa.
