By: Rachel Ryu, Policy Analyst at USCRI This “Behind the Brief” accompanies Policy & Advocacy’s Brief from Volume 9, Issue No. 3, “The Danger of Globally Institutionalizing Third Country Returns,” originally published on November 19, 2025. You can find the complete brief at the end. Reason Behind the Brief Return hubs and third country returns […]
Category: Policy and Advocacy
Press Release: 60+ National, State, and Local Organizations Uphold the United States’ Commitment to Welcome the Displaced and Persecuted
Arlington, VA — [November 20, 2025] — Today, more than 60 national, state, and local organizations that work with immigrants and refugees across the United States joined together to urge the U.S. Government to uphold its commitment to welcome refugees. For more than four decades, the U.S. refugee program has reflected our nation’s deepest values and global leadership in protecting the persecuted. Grounded in the Refugee Act of 1980, this bipartisan commitment […]
The Danger of Globally Institutionalizing Third Country Returns
Third country deportations should not be used as a tool for immigration enforcement. Often used as a tool to manage a politicized migration “problem,” third country deportations have the potential to normalize rights-free zones, forced exile, and indefinite detention. In February 2025, DHS issued a policy directive on third country deportations. The policy proposes forcibly […]
Press Release: Delegation Warns of Man-Made Starvation in Kakuma as USCRI Launches Pilot Program for Unaccompanied Girls
ARLINGTON, VA – Last week, a U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) delegation, led by USCRI President and CEO Eskinder Negash, visited Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya to gather firsthand insights, deliver critical support, and announce the launch of a pilot program that targets unaccompanied refugee girls. With over 300,000 refugees, the majority children, […]
Press Release: Amid Record Global Displacement, U.S. Lowers Refugee Admissions to Historic Lows
USCRI Reaffirms Commitment to Refugees at Home and Worldwide Arlington, VA — [October 31, 2025] — Today, the White House set the FY 2026 refugee admissions goal at just 7,500 refugee admissions. This number represents the lowest refugee admissions goal in the history of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) at a time of significant […]
SNAP: A Survival Lifeline for Refugees and Immigrants Will End on November 1
Starting November 1, 2025, all states must implement eligibility changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—the federal food assistance program. These changes resulting from to H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” will take effect despite the ongoing federal government shutdown and its impact on SNAP assistance for over 40 million Americans. The […]
The Loss of America’s Truckers: The Revocation of Commercial Driver’s Licenses from Refugees and Asylees
By Alexia Gardner, USCRI Policy Analyst You can listen to this brief here “We refugees are the lifeblood of America… We hold a sacred profession—truck driving— and we deliver to you all the materials, from the food you eat and the clothes you wear to the car you drive and the supplies used […]
Displacement and Humanitarian Needs in Burundi
Burundi is a small country in East Africa bordered by Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The nation has a rich cultural heritage and complex history, but in recent years, Burundi has faced serious displacement and humanitarian crises, both internally and cross-border. Driven by climate shocks, economic hardship, and both political […]
Safeguarding Refugee Rights Amid U.S. Policy Changes
Recent statements at the U.N. General Assembly signal a shift in U.S. refugee and asylum policy. USCRI examines what these changes mean for America’s humanitarian commitments. Last month, on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly, officials from the U.S. State Department led a discussion on the global refugee and asylum system. The Administration’s emerging […]
Explainer: Our Nation’s Commitment to Refugees
America has long been a beacon for the world’s persecuted and unfree. Woven into our national fabric, this principle reflects our deepest values and enduring moral leadership. As part of this legacy, the United States has welcomed over three million refugees since 1980. The United States refugee program was born in the aftermath of the […]
