Trump Administration Slashes US Refugee Cap by Nearly Half.

The Trump administration has announced a drastic reduction in the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States, a move that has been met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and refugee advocates. According to a recent decision, the annual refugee cap will be slashed from 62,500 to 15,000, a reduction of nearly 76%. The move has sparked concerns among refugee organizations and advocates, who argue that it will leave thousands of vulnerable individuals without a safe haven. "This is a devastating blow to the refugee resettlement program and to the thousands of refugees who were counting on the United States to provide them with safety and protection," said Sharif Aly, executive director of the International Refugee Assistance Project. "The reduction in the refugee cap will not only harm refugees but also undermine the United States' commitment to global leadership on refugee protection." The decision to slash the refugee cap is part of a broader trend of increasing restrictions on immigration and asylum seekers under the Trump administration. In recent years, the administration has implemented a series of policies aimed at limiting the number of refugees and asylum seekers entering the country, including a "travel ban" targeting predominantly Muslim countries and a rule requiring asylum seekers to apply for protection in the first country they reach. The reduction in the refugee cap has been met with criticism from human rights groups and refugee advocates, who argue that it is a betrayal of the United States' commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals. "The United States has a long history of providing a safe haven for refugees, and this decision is a stark departure from that tradition," said Bill Frelick, director of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. "By slashing the refugee cap, the administration is sending a message that it is no longer committed to protecting the most vulnerable individuals in the world." The decision to reduce the refugee cap has also been met with criticism from some lawmakers, who argue that it is a misguided policy that will harm national security and the economy. "Reducing the refugee cap will not only harm refugees but also undermine our national security and economic interests," said Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey. "We need to be doing more to support refugees, not less." The current status of the refugee resettlement program is uncertain, with many organizations and advocates calling for the Biden administration to reverse the Trump-era policies and increase the refugee cap. In the meantime, thousands of refugees will continue to wait in limbo, hoping for a safe haven in the United States.