CVT Applauds Increased Refugee Admissions Cap

ST. PAUL, Minn. & WASHINGTON —The Center for Victims of Torture™ (CVT) today issued this statement in response to President Biden raising the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2021 from 15,000 to 62,500.

“The President has taken a critical step toward restoring not only U.S. leadership on refugee protection, but also the hope that vanished as the previous administration decimated this country’s refugee admissions program. For our clients, refugee torture survivors from across the globe, healing often begins with hope. There has been precious little for far too long. Today is a day to be hopeful.

“The president is absolutely right that both grave humanitarian concerns and U.S. national interests warrant setting an aspirational refugee admissions goal and we welcome his commitment to ‘use every tool available’ to reach it—both this year and next.

“Congress must also do its part. The president has pledged to raise the refugee admissions goal to 125,000 next year, and has asked Congress for the funding necessary to do so. Congress needs to demonstrate its own leadership in reviving the admissions program by providing that funding.” –Scott Roehm, CVT Washington director

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The Center for Victims of Torture is a nonprofit organization headquartered in St. Paul, MN, with offices in Atlanta, GA, and Washington, D.C.; and healing initiatives in Africa and the Middle East. Visit www.cvt.org.