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IRAP Explainer on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Suspension

The Pinjuh Law Firm, LLC > Immigration News > News > IRAP Explainer on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Suspension

On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order titled
“Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.” The order suspends nal
decisions on refugee cases and refugee entries to the United States. However, the State
Department also indenitely suspended new applications and case processing, eective
immediately. This explainer analyzes the implications of the executive order.

1. What is the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program?
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is a U.S. government program that
facilitates the resettlement of refugees in the United States. The Department of State (DOS)
manages USRAP in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DOS
and DHS work with international organizations like the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and
Resettlement Support Centers to identify, vet, and process individuals eeing persecution
based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social
group. DHS adjudicates refugees’ applications. Approved refugees are resettled in the
United States, where they receive support for integration and self-suciency. A number of
programs are part of USRAP, such as the Welcome Corps private sponsorship program, the
Central American Minors Program, and the Safe Mobility Initiative. The suspension of
USRAP encompasses all of the refugee components of these programs.

2. What does it mean to suspend the entry of refugees under USRAP?
Suspending refugee entry under USRAP means the United States will not allow or facilitate
the entry of approved refugees into the country as part of its resettlement program. During
the suspension, no new refugees will be admitted.

3. What does it mean to suspend USRAP adjudications and refugee case
processing?

Suspending adjudications means halting DHS’s nal decision-making for refugee cases in
USRAP. Suspending case processing means halting other steps, including the creation of
new cases, scheduling appointments, and reviewing and evaluating applications.

4. What does the suspension mean for people with pending USRAP cases?
All pending USRAP cases, regardless of their stage, are paused for at least 90 days, but very
likely indenitely. Refugees who have completed interviews, been approved, or booked for
travel will not travel. Those with cases in earlier stages of processing will not see their
applications move forward. Security and medical clearances may expire during the
suspension, potentially requiring applicants to repeat steps in the process if and when the
suspension is lifted. The executive order does not explicitly terminate pending cases, but
their resolution depends on the timeline of the suspension.

5. Are there exceptions to the suspension for urgent cases?
The executive order allows for case-by-case exceptions in the discretion of the Secretaries
of DOS and DHS. DOS and DHS must determine that entry is in the national interest and
that the individual does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the U.S. It remains to
be seen whether and how this discretion is utilized. The government has not yet released
any information about how to request an exception. Refugee applicants or legal
representatives normally send information about urgent needs to the Resettlement
Support Center processing the refugee’s application.

6. What does the suspension mean for people who want to le a new USRAP
application?

At this time, no new referrals can be made into USRAP from UNHCR, NGOs, embassies and
consulates, Welcome Corps, or direct applications.

7. Does this suspension aect Welcome Corps cases?
Yes. As of January 22, 2025, the government has suspended new Welcome Corps
applications and processing of all pending applications. The Welcome Corps application
portal is closed. Applicants with draft applications will no longer be able to submit them.

8. Does this suspension affect Afghan SIV cases?
No, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) cases are not aected by this executive order. The SIV
program is an immigrant visa program, not a refugee resettlement program. This order
does not aect consular processing for SIV applicants, and SIV holders can continue to
travel to the United States and receive Reception & Placement (R&P) Services at this time.

9. Does this suspension aect departure assistance for Afghans in Afghanistan?
CARE departure assistance from Afghanistan is separate from USRAP refugee processing.
The State Department has not made a public announcement, but there are reports of some
departure assistance ight cancellations. Some Afghans received or were being processed
for departure assistance because they qualied for a USRAP referral, and their departure
assistance may be impacted in relation to this EO. Other Afghans receive departure
assistance because they are in SIV or family reunication processes that are not part of
USRAP, and they may not be aected in the same way.

10. What happens to refugees who have already been approved but have not
traveled to the United States?
According to guidance provided by DOS, all previously scheduled travel of refugees to the
United States is being canceled, and no new travel bookings will be made.

11. When will USRAP resume?
The executive order mandates that within 90 days of its issuance, and every 90 days
thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State,
submit a report to the President assessing whether resuming refugee admissions aligns
with U.S. interests. The rst report is due by April 20, 2025. Until a decision is made,
refugee adjudications, case processing, and admissions remain suspended.

12. How does this suspension impact family reunication cases?
The suspension aects certain pathways for family reunication, including both Refugee
Relative Petitions and the USRAP “Priority 3” family reunication pathway. Refugees with
approved petitions for relatives may experience indenite delays in reunication until the
suspension ends and admissions resume. Processing of Asylee Relative Petitions and
admissions of asylee derivative family members should not be impacted by this order.

13. What does the executive order say is the reason for the suspension?
The executive order claims the need to assess domestic capacity to receive refugees and
reassess the security screening and vetting processes for refugees. The order also claims
the need to conduct a comprehensive review of the program to evaluate its effectiveness,
efficiency, and alignment with U.S. foreign and domestic policy goals. Such a review was
conducted during the rst refugee ban in 2017. Much of the language in this new executive
order is identical to the language used in the 2017 ban.


Information changes quickly. This explainer was last updated on January 22, 2025. This explainer is provided for
informational purposes only and not as legal advice.

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