April 16, 2021

Members of the No Muslim Ban Ever coalition, the largest grassroots campaign that worked to repeal the Trump administration’s Muslim and African Bans, express their deep concern and disappointment regarding the Biden administration’s decision to cap refugee admissions at 15,000, the same restriction set by the Trump administration. While the White House has indicated that the administration will announce an updated and increased refugee cap by May 15, there is no sign that the refugee cap will meet the president’s campaign promises. Until they fulfill the president’s campaign promise to increase the refugee admissions cap to 62,500, the Biden administration is continuing to harm many of the same communities already affected by the Muslim and African Bans.

We call on President Biden to set the refugee cap at the promised 62,500 for FY2021 and rebuild & strengthen the resettlement program to meet a FY 2022 refugee admissions goal of 125,000. Our coalition will continue to fight, as it has been, to ensure he lives up to these promises.

In response to the administration’s announcement, co-leading organizations of the No Muslim Ban Ever coalition issued the following statements:

Brittney Rezaei, Managing Attorney of the Council on American Islamic Relations-San Francisco Bay Area, states: 

“It is outrageous that the Biden administration would walk back on their promise to increase refugee admissions. Refugees have been waiting years in limbo, in devastating conditions, awaiting resettlement. We need corrective action now. It is critical for the U.S. to take a leadership role in the resettlement of many of the most vulnerable people in the world.”

Linda Sarsour, Co-Founder and Executive Director of MPower Change, states:

“This decision is not just a huge broken promise, it is a betrayal. It is hard to imagine a worse way to end Biden’s first 100 days. Continuing Trump’s refugee policies is the surest way possible to tell people their activism and participation do not matter. I reject that kind of cynicism. We have a sacred duty to advocate for the most marginalized communities regardless of who is President, to not let ourselves be bystanders. We will keep taking action and organizing until the U.S. is a place that explicitly welcomes immigrants and refugees, where policies like the Muslim and African bans are unthinkable.”

Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus states: 

“President Biden pledged that he would welcome more refugees to this country and has spoken at length about undoing the xenophobic and racist policies of the previous administration. Instead of delivering on his promise, the president slammed the door shut on refugees fleeing poverty and war. After four years of heartbreak and suffering, we need more than rhetoric and empty promises—we need President Biden to undo this devastating decision and open the doors to safety and refuge in this country.”

Marielena Hincapié, Executive Director of the National Immigration Law Center, states:

“We are gravely disappointed by President Biden’s inexplicable decision to falter on our moral obligation to welcome refugees seeking safety and a better life as we have done throughout our nation’s history. The president promised during his campaign and was elected with a mandate to undo the destructive and harmful policies of the previous administration, and begin to restore America’s role as a beacon of hope around the world. Our nation has the resources, vision and responsibility to welcome those who have shown the courage to seek refuge here. Our communities need President Biden to deliver on that promise. This is a harmful policy that jeopardizes the lives of people fleeing dangerous conditions. We have a responsibility in the world to lead by example. The United States can and must do better than this.”

About No Muslim Ban Ever Coalition

The No Muslim Ban Ever campaign is led by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, Council on American-Islamic Relations-San Francisco Bay Area, MPower Change, and the National Immigration Law Center. It has been endorsed by more than 100 leading civil and human rights organizations. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.