WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement condemning President Trump’s executive order to indefinitely suspend all refugee admissions to the United States:
“I am alarmed by President Trump’s executive order indefinitely suspending all refugee admissions to the United States. Acceptance of refugees who are fleeing violence and persecution, including Afghans, Burmese Rohingya and Sudanese who have been forced from their homes — is a core American value and by issuing this order, our country is turning its back on those in need.
“Particularly concerning are the reports that approximately 1,660 Afghan refugees—including people who risked their lives to assist with the U.S. mission in Afghanistan—and who were already cleared to resettle in the United States have had their flights cancelled. For years I have advocated for the United States to uphold its commitment to our Afghan allies and partners, and I urge the administration to reconsider this decision.
“The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has a long history of bipartisan support and is a life-saving tool for the most vulnerable refugees, all while making Americans safer by promoting stability around the world. Resettled refugees contribute greatly to local economies and in recent years, have added nearly $124 billion to federal and local communities. Stepping away from this program at a time of unprecedented displacement will put refugees’ lives at risk and ultimately weaken our nation’s long-term security.”
Ranking Member Shaheen has been an advocate for refugees in the U.S. Senate. She has long led on efforts to reform and improve the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, having partnered with the late Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to create the program that protects Afghans who risked their lives to support the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Ranking Member Shaheen has a history of breaking through Senate gridlock to support the Afghan SIV program, leading bipartisan efforts in Congress to authorize additional Afghan SIVs. In 2024, she cosponsored a resolution on “World Refugee Day” reaffirming the importance of the U.S. promoting the health, safety, and well-being of refugees in the United States and globally. In 2022, she introduced a Senate resolution commending Moldova for its extraordinary efforts in supporting Ukrainian refugees fleeing Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine. In the same year, she cosponsored the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghans with temporary status in the United States to undergo additional vetting and apply for permanent legal residency. Ranking Member Shaheen recently visited the Community Center at St. Raphael’s Parish to learn more about its work with St. Anselm College’s Meelia Center for Community Engagement to support refugee and immigrant families that have resettled in the Manchester, New Hampshire area.
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