The Trump administration could postpone or further cut the admission of refugees to the U.S., citing President Trump’s refugee policy and uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The potential postponement would mean some or all refugee admissions could be frozen until a legal challenge to the president’s 2019 order on the matter is resolved, an administration official told Reuters.
The official, who requested anonymity, added that the lawsuit would need to be resolved “with some greater degree of finality,” though it is unclear when that would happen.
If the lawsuit is brought to the U.S. Supreme Court, a determination could take months or longer.
Yearly refugee levels are typically set around the beginning of each fiscal year; plans for the 2021 budgetary year begin Oct. 1.
The Trump administration has yet to announce plans for the following fiscal year, though the official said next year’s cap on refugee admissions could be lower than current levels.
“The arc of this administration’s refugee policy is going to continue,” the official added.
This year, the refugee cap was cut to 18,000, the lowest level since the Refugee Act passed in 1980.
Only half of this year’s refugee capacity has been admitted into the nation due to increased vetting caused by the pandemic delaying some arrivals.
Trump — along with the majority of his Cabinet’s policies — says refugees could pose a threat to national security in the United States.
They contend that the resettlement of refugees should take place closer to their countries of origin, saying that resettlements could be costly for local communities in the U.S.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, 42 governors have provided consent supporting refugee resettlement in their states. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) came out against the program in January, advocating for better support for “refugees, migrants and the homeless” who are already in the state.