U.S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
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USCRI Honors Former President Jimmy Carter

January 8, 2025

This week, we honor and remember former President Jimmy Carter, whose unwavering commitment to humanitarian service has left an indelible mark on our nation’s history. President Carter was a steadfast defender of forcibly displaced people and a passionate advocate for the refugee program.

On March 17, 1980, he signed the 1980 Refugee Act, a landmark piece of legislation that fundamentally shaped U.S. refugee policy. This Act aligned U.S. law with our international commitments, defining a refugee as someone with a “well-founded fear of persecution” and establishing a formal system for their resettlement. In a recent statement commemorating the day he signed the Act, Carter urged Americans to “renew our commitment to remaining a beacon of hope for freedom-loving people everywhere.”

Since the passage of the Refugee Act, more than three million refugees have found a new home in the United States. At USCRI, we have had the privilege of welcoming over 350,000 of these new Americans, witnessing their incredible journeys as they start new businesses, take the oath of citizenship, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

“President Jimmy Carter is remembered as a remarkable humanitarian who dedicated his life to public service,” remarks USCRI’s President and CEO Eskinder Negash. “His unwavering dedication to welcoming the ‘heart of the stranger’ is a legacy we carry forward. He lived his values to the fullest in the service of humanity.”

Let us all take inspiration from President Carter’s legacy and continue to work towards a future where every individual seeking refuge can find hope and opportunity in our great nation.


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