How many refugees does the United States resettle each year?

Since 1975, the U.S. has admitted more than 3.3 million refugees, an average of 80,000 per year.

Under U.S. law, the President has the authority to determine the number of refugees the United States will admit each year. In Fiscal Year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017), President Obama raised the ceiling to 110,000 to respond to a humanitarian crisis that has driven the number of refugees to the highest levels since the end of World War II. President Trump, however, suspended the program for four months in FY17 and reduced the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. He went on to reduce the refugee admissions ceiling to 45,000 in FY18, 30,000 in FY19, and 18,000 in FY20. These refugee admissions numbers were the lowest in U.S. history. President Biden has since reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to welcoming and supporting refugees. He increased the admissions ceilings to 125,000 for FY22 and FY23; this is the highest target in U.S. history.

Throughout these significant shifts in admissions ceilings, IINE has continued to resettle refugees. Additionally, IINE is in contact with many of our former refugee clients, who we resettled as long ago as 2007. Many routinely come to our offices for education, career, and legal services.