Policy
Advocate for sensible and humane refugee policies.
2020
Reform Platform
MFA supports U.S. policies that, consistent with national security interests, enhance Syrian refugee admission, appropriate necessary funding for their resettlement, and promote positive messaging to combat three great public fears: economic detriment, terrorism, and Islamophobia.
In addition to specific and time-sensitive calls to action, MFA urges you to let your Members of Congress and the Administration know that you expect them to act in accord with MFA's 2020 policy reform platform.
Refugee Admissions and National Security
Consistent with national security, we call on Congress and the White House to expedite and increase the numbers of Syrian refugee arrivals.
Ensure Administration accountability for minimum of Presidential Determination levels.
ADMINISTRATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
Appropriate minimally-sufficient Fiscal Year 2019 funds for Department of State and USCIS resettlement processes, and for USAID emergency assistance programs, particularly to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
APPROPRIATE
FUNDS
Sponsor/support any and all legislation affirming importance of refugee resettlement and/or assistance for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and opposing discrimination, overt or practical, on basis of religion, nationality, or any protected class.
Resist further appropriations cuts
that weaken United States Resettlement Program.
RESIST CUTS TO
RESETTLMENT
Sponsor/support any and all legislation that would extend and re-designate Temporary Protect Status, including S.2144, SECURE, "Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency" Act.
Urge the Administration to rescind four hostile Executive Orders (EOs), consistent with statutory requirements and international protocols to which US is signatory.
RESCIND
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Refuse to appropriate any funds for Executive Orders (EOs) implementation.
Insist on technology improvements to expedite vetting, assist inter-agency coordination.
Oppose RAISE, "Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment" Act, which would permanently cap annual refugee admissions at 50,000 and impose "merit-based" immigration standards, and any legislation that would constrain resettlement.
Resettlement and Refugee Integration
Appropriate necessary funding to expedite and improve refugee integration.
Oppose the move of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) from DoS to DHS and any consolidation of USAID and PRM humanitarian relief roles.
Appropriate Fiscal Year 2020 funds for Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement.
APPROPRIATE
FUNDS
Oppose imposition of Administration’s restrictive “assimilation” requirements.
OPPOSE
ASSIMILATION
REQUIREMENTS
Oppose any legislation that would seek to afford Governors and/or state legislatures authority to refuse Syrian refugee resettlement or any other legislation that would negatively affect resettlement.
Revitalize private sponsorships to increase the numbers of refugees being resettled.
PRIVATE
SPONSORSHIPS
Public Message
Keep support those affected by the
Syrian crisis in front of the public as a top priority.
Dispel the three great fears driving anti-Syrian refugee policy: economic harm; terrorism; Islamophobia.
Refute anti-refugee misinformation, xenophobia, and Islamophobia.
REFUTE
XENOPHOBIA
