Far fewer refugees entering us despite travel ban setbacks
A interesting topic!
You're likely referring to the fact that despite the legal challenges and setbacks to the Trump administration's travel ban, the number of refugees entering the United States has actually decreased significantly.
According to data from the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), the number of refugees admitted to the US has been declining steadily since 2016, even before the travel ban was implemented.
In 2016, the US admitted around 84,000 refugees. In 2017, that number dropped to around 53,000, and in 2018, it fell to around 22,000. In 2019, the number of refugees admitted was just over 18,000.
There are several reasons for this decline, including:
- Changes in US refugee policy: The Trump administration has implemented several policies aimed at reducing the number of refugees admitted to the US, including a cap on the number of refugees allowed to enter the country each year.
- Increased vetting requirements: The administration has also implemented stricter vetting requirements for refugees, which can lead to longer processing times and a decrease in the number of refugees who are ultimately admitted.
- Funding cuts: The Trump administration has also cut funding for the USRAP, which has made it more difficult for the program to operate effectively.
- Global refugee crisis: The global refugee crisis has also played a role in the decline in refugee admissions to the US. Many countries, including the US, have been struggling to cope with the large numbers of refugees fleeing conflict and persecution.
It's worth noting that the travel ban, which was implemented in 2017, has been the subject of several legal challenges and has been partially blocked by courts. However, even before the travel ban was implemented, the number of refugees entering the US was already declining.
Sources:
- US State Department, "Refugee Admissions Program"
- Pew Research Center, "U.S. refugee admissions have declined sharply since 2016"
- The New York Times, "Refugee Admissions to U.S. Have Plummeted Under Trump"