On June 20 the nations of the world celebrated World Refugee Day. Here was the official U.S. celebration by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.[1]
“On World Refugee Day, the United States reaffirms our longstanding tradition as a beacon of hope for refugees and persecuted people around the globe. We are committed to standing with the millions of refugees worldwide who have been forced to flee violence and persecution, and we thank the generous host communities, vital humanitarian partners, and private sponsors that support them. In FY 2024, the United States has to date welcomed over 65,000 refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and is on track to welcome the most refugees in a single year in the modern history of the program.”
“Refugees make significant positive political, social, and economic contributions to their host and resettlement communities around the world. In the United States, refugees contributed almost $124 billion to the growth of the U.S. economy from 2005-2019. This year, the Administration has continued efforts to rebuild and strengthen USRAP with the unwavering support of partners, including resettlement agencies, resettlement support centers, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).”
“Americans throughout the United States have stepped up to do what Americans do best, showing our hospitality to newcomers. Through the Welcome Corps, the USRAP’s private sponsorship program, more than 87,000 Americans in in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have joined together to form sponsorship groups, signing up to welcome refugees into their communities, schools, workplaces, and homes.”
“We also launched the Safe Mobility Initiative, which during the past year has approved more than 30,000 refugees from South and Central America to resettle in communities across the United States, Canada, and Spain. As a result of the Administration’s ongoing diplomacy and assistance, refugees have been able to integrate in host communities around the world and access services, information, and other support to find safety and stability for their families where they are instead of undertaking dangerous journeys to other countries.”
“The United States is a global leader in international humanitarian response. The Department of State, through the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, coordinates with governments, multilateral partners, and the private sector to support refugees and provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection for the most vulnerable. Responsibility sharing is essential to meet humanitarian needs so that all people can live with hope and dignity. No single country can respond alone, and no country is untouched by the impacts of forced displacement. The United States stands together with our partners and refugee communities on this day to honor and support forcibly displaced people around the world.”
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[1] U.S. State Dep’t, Press Statement: On the Occasion of World Refugee Day (June 20, 2024).