White House Issues Executive Order on Enhancing Refugee Resettlement Programs and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration
On 2/4/21, President Biden issued an Executive Order revoking certain past presidential actions on refugee admissions and resettlement, and directing government agencies to take steps to improve the “efficacy, integrity, security, and transparency” of the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP); to create a plan to address USRAP processing backlogs; to complete a review of the Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa programs; and to submit a report on climate change and its impact on migration, including forced migration, internal displacement, and planned relocation. (86 FR 8839, 2/9/21)
Executive Order 14013 of February 4, 2021
Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs To Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration
The White House stated in a separate fact sheet that this Executive Order "will launch administrative reforms" to reach the "goal of increasing refugee admissions to 125,000 in the first full fiscal year of the Biden-Harris Administration."
Related Resources
- DOS Press Statement: Rebuilding and Enhancing U.S. Refugee Resettlement Programs – February 4, 2021
- White House Fact Sheet: President Biden to Sign Executive Actions Restoring America’s Place in the World – February 4, 2021
- Executive Order 13815: Resuming the United States Refugee Admissions Program with Enhanced Vetting Capabilities (10/24/17)
- Executive Order 13888: Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Refugee Resettlement (9/26/19)
- White House Memo on Implementing Executive Order 13780 (3/6/17)
- Featured Issue: First 100 Days of the Biden Administration