WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, released the following statement today applauding President Joe Biden’s decision to lift the refugee cap to 62,500 after progressives urged him to end Trump’s cruel, xenophobic policy:
“Just a few weeks ago, I vocally urged President Biden to keep his promise to restore America’s humanity, immediately increase the refugee cap, and end Donald Trump’s xenophobic policy that cruelly restricted refugee admissions to a historically low level. Organizers around the country, refugee resettlement agencies, and other progressive Members of Congress all raised their voices to ensure a quick change in the policy.
“Today, President Biden did just that. With his decision today to raise the cap to 62,500, the President has not only kept his promise to us but to refugees around the world — including over 35,000 who have already been cleared for resettlement. By signing an Emergency Presidential Determination, he is clearly saying that America is once again a beacon of hope.
“I am grateful that President Biden listened to our call to action and is building on the swift work he did during his first 100 days to begin reversing Trump’s all-out draconian assault on immigrants. While this new administration inherited a broken immigration system that was gutted and sabotaged by the previous president, it is on all of us to fix it — quickly. Today’s announcement is a critical step. Now, we must continue to rebuild our refugee system and reform our immigration system in a humane way that focuses on dignity, respect, and family unity. The Progressive Caucus looks forward to working closely with the Biden Administration to ensure that we do exactly that.”
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