Congress Members urge State Department to restart Refugee Resettlement Program

Over 40 U.S. Congress members have called on the State Department to immediately restart the suspended refugee resettlement program, citing urgent humanitarian concerns, Khaama Press reported.

Congresswoman Yasmeen Ansari highlighted that the program was suspended and defunded during Donald Trump’s second term, leaving thousands of refugees, including over 22,000 as of April 2025, stranded after completing security and medical screenings.

The suspension has caused severe hardships, exemplified by a canceled January 2025 flight carrying Afghan refugee children unable to reunite with their families. The letter criticizes the Trump administration for undermining American values of hospitality and human rights, warning of negative social and economic impacts. Congress members call for reinstating the program, rescheduling canceled flights, and restoring funding to support refugees facing precarious conditions amid the ongoing Afghan humanitarian crisis.