ACLU Statement on Biden’s Refugee Executive Order

WASHINGTON — President Biden signed an executive order today rescinding the refugee ban, restoring our refugee system, and enhancing processing so that refugees may again be admitted to the United States in meaningful numbers. To be admitted as a refugee, an individual must demonstrate that they have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution, and undergo a screening and approval process that often takes several years to complete.

Manar Waheed, senior legislative and advocacy counsel for the ACLU, said:

“This is a marked and promising shift from the Trump administration’s callous disregard for human life and hatred for refugees — most of whom are Black and Brown immigrants, including Muslims. However, we know that for this announcement to be fully realized, there is a lot of work to do. Our refugee system was decimated by Trump. It must be rebuilt fairly, effectively, and efficiently to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities so people can seek safety in the United States per our immigration laws. The Biden administration must work swiftly to protect those in dire situations, so that we may restore the purpose behind these laws, and serve as a safe haven for those in need.”