The United States has a long history of providing welcome to those needing safety. For decades, life-saving protection for refugees has been possible through the U.S. resettlement program and asylum. Today, we see these pathways to safety for those who have fled persecution and violence coming under attack, leaving some of the world’s most vulnerable people behind. Every day, our team is hard at work advocating for solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, asylees, Temporary Protected Status recipients, DREAMers, and other marginalized people worldwide.
Together with cofounders Refugees International and the International Refugee Assistance Project, we have also launched the Refugee Advocacy Lab to grow the diverse constituency for U.S. leadership on refugee protection. We do so by building partnerships, supporting inclusive policies, and developing communications products for the common good.
Read our reports to learn more about our work to promote and protect refugee resettlement and asylum.
Available documents & links
IRC and Refugee Advocacy Lab Present "States Lay the Foundation:" A New Blueprint for Refugee & Immigrant Integration (Legislative Samples)
70 years after the Refugee Convention, how the EU and the US can renew humanitarian leadership. (July 2021)
This World Refugee Day, the U.S. should redouble its efforts to address the regional displacement crisis in the Americas by increasing its commitments to refugee protection. (June 2021)
This policy brief recommends durable solutions to address the root causes of migration and sustain success in responding to humanitarian challenges in Northern Central America. (June 2021)
The International Rescue Committee outlines five key reasons President Biden must act quickly to prevent any further harm to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. (April 2021)
Midway through the 2021 fiscal year, only 2,050 refugees have been admitted to the United States. (April 2021)
The Biden administration must quickly take bold actions, including: surging humanitarian assistance to both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border; and restoring protections to vulnerable people. (November 2020)
Rebuilding the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and returning America to its historic role as leader in resettlement will take a concerted, long-term effort. (October 2020)
This President’s Day, the IRC is releasing a new report looking back at president’s records on refugee admissions since the creation of the modern-day resettlement program in 1980. (February 2020)
Naturalization, enacted by the first Congress in 1790, has long been a cornerstone of U.S. democracy, freedom, and liberty, enabling new Americans to integrate and contribute socially and economically. (October 2019)
On the heels of news that the Trump Administration is considering resettling zero refugees next year, a new IRC report shows that America’s retreat from global leadership in refugee protection comes at a time of acute global crisis. (July 2019)
June 20 is World Refugee Day. Today, we face an unprecedented global crisis, with more than 25 million refugees fleeing violence and persecution. (June 2019)
This report uses first-hand accounts from beneficiaries, partners, and staff on the ground to reveal the manufactured tensions created by the Trump administration at the U.S.-Mexico border. (April 2019)
Nationwide refugee admissions dropped precipitously in Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) compared to the year prior and historic trends. (February 2019)
The time is now for the American people and Congress to be on the right side of history and stand up for refugees. (June 2018)
In September 2017, the Trump Administration set its refugee admissions level for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) at a historic low of just 45,000 refugees. (June 2018)
The most powerful country on earth should not be afraid of the world’s most vulnerable. (September 2017)
