Washington—Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Trump administration proposed admitting only 18,000 refugees in 2020, an historically low refugee admission ceiling:

“No administration has ever proposed admitting this few refugees. America was once a beacon of hope to those suffering under oppression. We welcomed the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

“Before the Trump administration, we admitted on average 95,000 refugees each year. Now his administration wants to admit less than one-fifth of that amount – only 18,000 people. Last year, it was Canada and not the United States that accepted the most refugees.

“Refugees fleeing violence and persecution come to the United States in search of a better life. They should be welcomed with compassion and understanding, not turned away or have their children taken from them at the border. We’re better than that. Sadly, the administration’s low refugee number says otherwise.”

Background

Last week, Senator Feinstein and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan requesting a consultation before the October 1 deadline to set a refugee threshold.