O’Callaghan and Resettlement Experts Reflect on Biden’s Refugee Policies at Manhattan College Event

Kathie O’Callaghan (HHR), Russ Agdern (HIAS) and Giulia McPherson (JRS) answer questions from student Christopher Belden during live event for Manhattan College students.

At Manhattan College earlier this month, HHR president Kathie O’Callaghan joined a panel of refugee resettlement experts to speak with students about the state of refugee policy in the United States. 

The event, “Three Years Later: A Reflection on the Biden Administration's Refugee and Border Policy,” was the final session of a three-part series for refugee advocacy week at Manhattan College, including an event on the NYC migrant crisis, and LGBTQ+ refugees in Kenya. 

O’Callaghan was joined by Russ Agdern, Grassroots Campaign Manager at HIAS, and Giulia McPherson, Vice President of Advocacy and Operations at Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS).

“With the 2024 election season upon us, it is important to have open and honest conversations about the progress made,” said Christopher Belden, Manhattan College student and organizer of the event. “Refugee and Migrant Advocacy Week serves a greater purpose than just educating students and community members. It connects them with amazing local organizations involved in the humanitarian and resettlement response demonstrating that international displacement crises have connections to our local communities…”

The panel coincided with Biden's announcement to set a new refugee cap for FY 2024 at 125,000 refugees. But with 2023 US refugee admission numbers totalling 60,000, less than half of last year’s presidential cap of 125,000, Belden, class of ‘24, was skeptical of Biden’s refugee policy. 

“Why is the United States, one of the richest countries and most developed nations on Earth, failing to max out its refugee cap, which to begin with isn't even half of a percent of the total refugees currently on the planet?” asked Belden. 

O’Callaghan put his question into context. 

“For four years, the refugee admissions program was cut off at the knees,” said O’Callaghan, referring to the policies of the previous administration. “Dismantling the infrastructure, staffing and funding took its toll on Resettlement Agencies. Building back takes time. The US Refugee Admission Program numbers for 2023 already surpass the last three years combined.”

O’Callaghan also discussed the resettlement numbers overall that paint a much more positive picture for US refugee policy. Since 2021, the U.S. has resettled over 90,000 Afghans and more than 100,000 Ukranians through emergency programs to address urgent humanitarian crises. These numbers are not counted in the USRAP totals because Afghans and Ukranians were granted Humanitarian Parole (HP), a two-year temporary status that is used to address emergency crises and bypass the USRAP.. 

Additionally, up to 30,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans are allowed to enter the country per month under the same HP status in a USCIS program.

“A significant number of refugees are being admitted and resettled with Resettlement Agencies and with the help of an increasing number of private citizens” said O’Callaghan. “This trend will continue as the government invests in bold changes and adoption of private citizen pathways. So that’s the good news.”

These initiatives culminated with the launch of Welcome Corps in January 2023, a government program that allows groups of five American citizens to privately resettle refugees coming through the US Refugee Admissions Program.

Countering the good news, Agdern of HIAS pointed out the limitations of Humanitarian Parole and using temporary status programs to increase refugee admissions.

“On the one hand, humanitarian parole is an important tool in these very challenging moments of time,” said Agdern. “But we need to figure out how we can make sure those folks have the opportunity to make the United States their home if that's where they want to be.”

Agdern was referring to the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA), a bill currently stuck in Congress that would solve this problem. If passed, the AAA would grant permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship for tens of thousands of Afghans in the U.S. 

“They're working, they're going into school, they are trying to integrate and rebuild their lives… All they want is peace of mind,” said McPherson. “And we're not able to give them that without this Adjustment Act moving forward… This will be an important way for us to demonstrate the fact that we value the contributions that Afghans have made to the US policies in the past, and then we're ready to accept them here.” 

As part of a national initiative to get congressional leaders to pass this bill, Hearts & Homes provided Manhattan College students with postcards to send to their representatives. 

“For the most part, the New York delegation in Congress is favorable toward refugees,” said Kathie. “The point of voicing your support to your elected officials is to validate their actions. They like to know they have constituents' support and that they are taking the right steps.”

To watch the full panel discussion, visit our youtube page here.