Washington, D.C. – Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) condemns the Trump administration’s Presidential Determination (PD) on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2026, which sets the refugee ceiling at a record low of 7,500—without the legally required consultation with Congress.
“This decision, made without meaningful Congressional consultation, abandons the very spirit and intent of the Refugee Act of 1980 — a bipartisan law grounded in compassion, international responsibility, and moral leadership,” said Kristyn Peck, CEO of LSSNCA
The Refugee Act was designed to ensure that refugee admissions reflect global humanitarian needs and uphold the United States’ role as a beacon of safety for those fleeing persecution. It established an annual consultation process between Congress and the president to respond to global crises. In the first year of the act, under President Reagan, the United States welcomed more than 150,000 refugees.
“Amid unprecedented displacement — with more than 123 million people forcibly displaced worldwide — this administration’s decision dismantles U.S. humanitarian leadership,” Peck said. “By setting a cap shaped by politics rather than need, the administration rejects decades of bipartisan consensus that recognized refugee resettlement as both a moral duty and a reflection of American strength.”
LSSNCA calls on the administration to reverse course and process the 120,000 refugees who had already been conditionally approved for resettlement as of January 20, 2025, but whose arrivals were abruptly halted by the refugee ban.
We call upon our community to urge your national, state, and local elected leaders to call on President Trump to reverse course and restore the refugee admissions program that prioritize the most at-risk refugees around the world.
