Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision to slash refugee admissions by almost half in the next 12 months:
"Past presidents have embraced America’s refugee program because they understood our standing as a beacon of hope and safety for millions of refugees across the globe. I’m heartbroken to see President Trump issue this dispiriting blow to people fleeing war, famine, and violence who will be shut out by his inhumane policies.
"President Trump sees refugees as a problem, not an opportunity. Maine needs people, and refugee admissions offer a way to help our state grow and thrive. His decision to slash admissions to 18,000 is immoral, short-sighted, and wrong. Congress should immediately pass legislation to prevent any president from lowering the annual refugee cap below 95,000. Those suffering around the world deserve better than this—and we are better than this."
BACKGROUND:
Since President Trump has taken office, refugee admissions from many countries have already been effectively zeroed out. Data below on number of refugees being resettled in Maine is according to Catholic Charities of Maine.
Pingree is supportive of legislation to allow Congress to set refugee quotas, rather than the president. Pingree is a cosponsor of H.R. 2146, the Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement (GRACE) Act, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s (D-Calif.) bill to set a floor of 95,000 for annual admission of refugees. She is also a cosponsor of the Lady Liberty Act (H.R. 3376) by Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) which sets a floor of 110,000 refugees per year.
