As Biden Pledges To Boost U.S. Refugee Admissions, Atlanta Leaders Focus On Rebuilding Resettlement Programs

Under both Republican and Democratic presidents, the nation has averaged about 95,000 refugee resettlements each year. But the Trump administration’s last action on refugees reduced that number to just 15,000.

President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to increase that to 125,000 resettlements — a number the International Rescue Committee in Atlanta believes is achievable.

Meanwhile, IRC’s acting executive director, Justin Howell, told WABE’s “All Things Considered” host Jim Burress that there’s a ton of work to do internally, to strengthen and rebuild U.S. refugee resettlement programs nationwide.