Refugee resettlement in the United States

¿Qué es el reasentamiento de refugiados?

Refugee resettlement is a process that allows certain refugees to enter the U.S. and receive services to help them rebuild their lives.

• People must apply for the refugee program from outside the United States.
• The United Nations and other actors refer potential refugees to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which includes a long interview and screening process.  
• Each year, the government sets a limit on the number of refugees who can come to the United States, called a “Presidential Determination”.
• Resettlement agencies provide short-term help with housing, benefits, and basic needs.

Information for refugees already in the U.S.

If you entered the U.S. through the US refugee admissions program, there is no change to your current status. Resettlement agencies offer limited support, and programs such as Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) may still be available depending on your state.

Review of past refugee cases

News reports state that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is preparing a major review of past refugee cases. 

Who is included

USCIS plans to review all refugees admitted between January 20, 2021 and February 20, 2025. This includes those who have received Green Cards.

What USCIS may do

• Check again if you qualified as a refugee when you were approved to enter the United States
• Look again at “inadmissibility issues”  that came up in your case, including those previously waived
• Consider re-interviewing principal refugees and family members (derivative refugees), such as your spouse or children
• Decide whether to continue or end your refugee status

Who is not included

If you were admitted before January 20, 2021, your case is likely not part of this review. Your current status, such as being a Green Card holder or naturalized U.S. citizen, should also not be affected. The government could change who is included in the review in the future.

What we do not know yet

This is a new policy, and details may change as the government shares more information. We do not yet know how USCIS will decide who is reviewed first, how interviews will take place, or how Green Cards already issued could be affected. We will add updates as more becomes available.

What you should do now

You do not need to take any action at this time.

• If you receive a notice from USCIS, seek legal help.
• If you are not a U.S. citizen, consider the risks before planning international travel.

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Information for those already in the process

This includes people who have started the refugee process but are still outside the United States, including follow-to-join cases.

Refugee cases:

• The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is suspended, so most refugee cases overseas cannot move forward.
• Refugee travel has resumed, but only for those prioritized by the government, including Afrikaners from South Africa.
• The refugee ban remains in place. Only people who receive an exemption may enter.

Follow-to-join (I-730) for refugees:

• Most cases remain on hold overseas.
• Travel to the U.S. is paused.

Information for those who want to apply

Right now, most options to apply for resettlement to the United States are closed or very limited.

• You cannot apply to the refugee program at this time because USRAP is suspended.
• The refugee ban remains in place. Only people who receive an exemption may enter.
• The Private Sponsorship program is closed. U.S. citizens and permanent residents cannot apply to sponsor refugees.
• The Presidential Determination of allowed refugees for 2026 is 7,500 and is mostly for Afrikaners. Currently, these slots can only be used by people who receive an exemption to the refugee ban.

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