Albany, NY – Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera was joined today on the Million Dollar Staircase by Senator April Baskin, Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (AD-39, Queens) refugee agencies, support networks and advocates from across New York State to denounce the Trump administration’s callous decision to halt the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), and to call on Governor Hochul to increase state aid to the New York State Services to Refugees Program (NYSESRP).

After reassuming office in January, one of the Trump administration’s first actions was to halt the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, leaving aid organizations and networks scrambling to fill the gap and to provide answers to fully-vetted refugees who had already been promised safe entry and integration by the U.S. government.

In New York, the NYSESRP program has been funded by New York State at some level since 2017, but it is now imperative that it be fully funded beyond previous years to compensate for the lack of federal resources and support.

Assemblymember Rivera and representatives from statewide refugee agencies are calling on Governor Hochul to include $15 million in funding for the program in the 2025-26 state budget.

While the Trump administration has deemed the national refugee program a security threat, it remains a fact that refugees accepted through the program are the most well-vetted immigrants to enter the United States.

Those seeking resettlement to the U.S. undergo years, sometimes decades, of interviews and background checks. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees interviews them multiple times to assess their fit with humanitarian priorities and admissibility under U.S. law. Then they are interviewed by a Resettlement Support Center operated under the State Department, and finally by Homeland Security officers. Less than 1% of refugees ultimately resettle through humanitarian programs.

Despite this multifaceted, lengthy and secure process, the Trump administration has consistently sought to cut the nation’s refugee numbers substantially.

In 2021, The Trump administration slashed the number of refugees it would allow to resettle in the United States, capping the number at 15,000, a record low in the history of the country's modern refugee program. Refugee resettlement saw a sharp drop in refugee admissions, from about 84,994 in President Obama’s last year to 11,814 in 2020. Trump’s administration also introduced new and strict vetting procedures and banned refugees from 11 Muslim-majority countries, with a severe drop in refugees from those countries. As a result, the Trump administration severely weakened the refugee resettlement network nationwide, with the resettlement agencies forced to cut costs and close offices.

The economic benefit of refugee resettlement is well-documented.

Between 2005 and 2019, the net fiscal impact of refugees and asylees was positive at $123.8 billion.  This means that refugees and asylees contributed more revenue than they cost in expenditures to the government. The net fiscal benefit to the federal government was estimated at $31.5 billion, and the net fiscal benefit to state and local governments was estimated at $92.3 billion.

Across New York, the NYSESRP program has allowed for extended employment training as well as other services that boost refugees’ success. As refugees increase their skills, their contributions become more valuable to employers, which is good for local business and good for the economy. The federal cuts to the programs designed to help these individuals as they settle into life in our communities will be detrimental.

Since the beginning of October 2022, New York State has welcomed nearly 12,000 refugees.

In Buffalo, more than 700 new refugees in the region were affected by the federal stop-work order. And yet, the city has seen a boost in population and economic figures as a direct result of refugees.

A 2023 study found 15,000 refugees have resettled in Buffalo since 2002 – significantly driving its population growth. Census figures show the overall population in Buffalo increased by around 17,000 between 2010 and 2020.

Funding to programs like NYSESRP are critical to providing basic needs like housing and food to refugee arrivals and to fund the agencies that ensure that refugees are enrolled in schools, placed in jobs, and have access to health care and other social support programs. 

Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “In the face of the direct threat from the Trump administration, it is crucial to protect the Services to Refugees Program. New York must continue to be a model of freedom and humanitarian assistance. I urge the Executive and the Legislature to include $15 million in this year's budget to provide relief for this particularly vulnerable population.”

Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “New York was built on the backs of immigrant communities. There should be no question that immigrants are welcome in our state. We need bolder steps to fight against this federal administration's efforts to target refugees and migrants, and I hope New York continues its commitment to being a safe haven for refugees.”

Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “For years, New York has welcomed refugees from all over the world who are fleeing violence or insecurity in search of a better life for their family. But the Trump administration is putting refugee lives at risk, gutting crucial refugee support programs that are specifically designed to protect those whose safety is at risk, and allow them to plant roots, work, pay taxes and contribute to our local communities. The $15 million investment in NYSESRP is both a statement of our values and an investment in the future of our state. This commitment—along with legislation like my I Heart Refugees Act, which would codify resettlement programs into law—ensures we continue living up to the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty by supporting all those yearning to breathe free.”

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “Our federal government fully vetted, approved, and brought these refugees to our community. With the stop-work order, our government broke its promise to these newcomers and left agencies and communities scrambling to fill the gap. New York State has always served as a beacon for those fleeing war and persecution, offering an opportunity for a life made better by safety and prosperity. I will never stop working to help New York State to uphold its commitment to refugees across the globe, and will ensure that our state continues to remain a shining example of our nation’s best attributes.”

Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, Chair of the Assembly’s Task Force on New Americans, said, “New York has always been a beacon for those seeking safety and opportunity. Fully funding the Enhanced Services to Refugees Program isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a commitment to dignity, stability, and opportunity for those who need it most. When we invest in refugees, we invest in a stronger, more compassionate New York for all.”

Assemblymember Sarah Clark said, “My district and throughout the Upstate region is home to a wide variety of refugee communities working and raising their families here. Providing resources to our service-based organizations to ensure a safe and welcoming environment so our families can thrive is more critical than ever. NYSESRP enhances our communities by celebrating diversity and strengthening the programs that help refugee families weave into our vibrant culture. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to advocate for $15 million in funding for NYSESRP in the FY2025-26 One House budget, to ensure families seeking refuge in New York have the resources and services they need to succeed.”

Assemblymember Anna Kelles said, “New York State has long been a haven for those escaping persecution and oppression. This commitment has led not only to a diverse, dynamic, and highly productive workforce but has created a vibrant culture that has attracted both tourism and residents to this state for many decades. Communities with high immigrant populations are not only economically more productive but are consistently safer communities to live in. In short, it is our very diversity and the welcoming arms we have held open for those persecuted and driven from their homes that has made this state strong. While the federal government is dismantling its commitments to asylum seekers, New York must step up and uphold our core values we are famous for.”

Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, Executive Director for International Institute of Buffalo, said, “We are grateful that our representatives in Albany have historically understood the value that immigrants and refugees bring to New York and the rest of the country. When times have been difficult, through programs such as NYSESRP, they’ve demonstrated that they have the backs of immigrants and refugees and the organizations that serve them. We are experiencing those times right now. If there’s a question about that, I would respectfully ask that they refer to the headlines from Washington.”

Dr. Molly Carr, CEO of Jewish Family Services of WNY, said, “It doesn’t take much of an investment for refugees to becoming self-sufficient and contributors, who are part of the transformation of our communities for the better. With the federal government withdrawing from their obligations to support newly arrived refugees, it is critical to ensure that core supportive services continue to be available as refugees adapt, engage, and become part of our community fabric. The increased funding for NYSESRP will ensure we can carry out that investment in our newest Americans as they adjust to life here in New York state.”

Pamela Bos Kefi, CEO of Journey’s End Refugee Services, said, “We are grateful to be in this welcoming state! New York State is a leader in providing state funding to support refugee integration, and it is more important now than ever to increase that investment as resettlement agencies like Journey’s End Refugee Services fight federal cuts. The New York State Enhanced Services for Refugees Program (NYSESRP) is critical to ensuring our clients receive essential services like housing, job training and healthcare. At Journey’s End Refugee Services, the funding has also supported English classes to help integrate refugees into the workforce which boosts our local economy. Without NYSESRP, we will struggle to maintain services, limiting the economic benefits for the local economy and putting our new neighbors at risk. We need our state government partners to keep New York a welcoming state and live up to America’s promise of safety and freedom.”

Lori VanAuken, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Family and Community Services, said, “As an agency of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, we have a rich legacy of welcoming refugees. The federal funding freeze for refugee resettlement jeopardizes our ability to connect refugee families to services they need to thrive in and contribute to our local communities.An increase in state aid is crucial to our efforts to help refugees build hopeful, new lives.”

Deacon Steve Schumer, president and CEO for Catholic Charities of Buffalo, said, “With the suspension of funds for refugee resettlement by the federal government, the agencies in Buffalo who help people who arrived in the United States lawfully, desperately need New York State to step-in to fill the gap. We're committed to helping our new neighbors get a foothold on starting a new life after years of persecution and violence and enduring the hardships refugee camps around the world. Like our partners in this effort, Catholic Charities of Buffalo faces a significant financial burden in doing this work; however, not enabling this work is antithetical to our mission, American values, and basic human decency.”