President Donald J. Trump the White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President
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President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: As leaders in our communities, elected at all levels of state and local government, we write today to express our strong support for protecting and resettling refugees in our states and communities and to urge your Administration to welcome refugees in Fiscal Year 2021. Refugee resettlement is not only a lifeline for refugees, but also a revitalizing addition to our communities strengthening our economies and civic institutions. We urge you to consider the voices of communities across the country as we join together in support of this life-saving and life-giving program. The international community faces a forced migration crisis of historic proportions that requires bold leadership, innovative solutions, and all countries to do their fair share. Each day, an estimated 37,000 people are displaced from their homes due to violence, persecution, or war. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that over 79.5 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, 26 million of whom are registered as refugees. More than half of those registered are children. For a small minority facing specific risks, staying in their initial host country is not an option, making resettlement necessary. The UNHCR estimates that 1.44 million refugees need access to resettlement in 2020. Despite this, only a tiny fraction is afforded this chance. As the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged American society at every level, refugees and immigrants have been critical to the fight. From the healthcare professionals who treat COVID-19 patients to the truckers who transport essential goods across the country to the workers who keep our grocery stores running, refugees and immigrants are on the frontlines to help the country they now call their own. Fiscal Year 2020’s refugee admissions goal of 18,000 was the lowest in the history of the program. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted refugees awaiting resettlement as many were left in limbo due to abrupt travel restrictions and flight cancellations. As international travel resumes and 1 health checks are implemented, we hope resettlement resumes in this time of great need, ensuring that public health and protecting refugees are not mutually exclusive. The American people – our constituents – express their support for protecting and resettling refugees in our communities every single day. From welcoming a refugee family as they arrive at an airport to assisting them with English language classes or simply helping them navigate the local bus line – our communities stand for welcome. Like us, they know that refugees are not people to be feared – they are men, women, and children who were forced to flee in order to save their lives and are now looking for a place to be safe and call home again. Refugees bring immense value to our communities as we have seen first hand the dividends of refugee contributions for generations. They have invigorated our economies, brought innovation to our towns, and made our communities stronger through their contributions to our public life and cultural institutions. Whether they have been here for decades or have just arrived, refugees are students, business owners, dedicated employees, customers, elected officials, and community leaders. In every way, they embody what it means to be an American. Refugees, and their descendants, bring so much to our communities, and we are better and stronger because of them. As state and local elected officials, we encourage you to visit our communities and hear directly from our constituents, including refugees themselves, about what this life-saving program has brought to our country. We hope that you will take into account our strong desire to welcome refugees as you make your determination on the number of refugees our country will help in the coming year. Sincerely, Alabama Gary Palmer, State Representative, Birmingham Neil Rafferty, State Representative, Birmingham 2 Alaska Elvi Gray-Jackson, State Senator, Anchorage Andrew Josephson, State Representative, Juneau Arizona Ylenia Aguilar, School Board Member, Phoenix Lela Alston, State Senator, Phoenix Richard Andrade, State Representative, Phoenix Andres Cano, State Representative, Tucson Steven Chapman, Governing Board Member, Phoenix Cesar Chavez, State Representative, Phoenix Paul Cunningham, Vice Mayor, Tucson Andrea Dalessandro, State Senator, Green Valley Devin Del Palacio, School Board Member, Tolleson Elora Diaz, School Governing Board Member, Phoenix Paul Durham, Councilmember, Tucson Diego Espinoza, State Representative, Avondale Charlene Fernandez, State Representative, Phoenix Kristel Ann Foster, School Board President, Tucson Randall Friese, State Representative, Tucson Rosanna Gabaldon, State Representative, Sahuarita Kate Gallego, Mayor, Phoenix Carlos Garcia, Councilmember, Phoenix Betty Guardado, Vice Mayor, Phoenix Daniel Hernandez, State Representative, Tucson Berdetta Hodge, Tempe Union Governing Board President, Tempe Steve Kozachik, Councilmember, Tucson Lauren Kuby, Councilmember, Tempe PedroLopez, Governing Board Member, Phoenix Adam Lopez-Falk, School Board Member, Phoenix Lindsay Love, Chandler Unified School District Governing Board Member, Chandler Juan Mendez, State Senator, Tempe Patrick Morales, Vice President of the Tempe School Elementary Board and Governing Board Member, Tempe The Honorable Channel Powe, Governing Board President, Phoenix Stanford Prescott, Governing Board Member, Phoenix Union High School District, Phoenix Martín Quezada, State Senator, Phoenix 3 Rebecca Rios, State Senator, Phoenix Diego Rodriguez, State Representative, Laveen Regina Romero, Mayor, Tucson Athena Salman, State Representative, Tempe Lane Santa Cruz, Councilmember, Tucson Raquel Teran, State Representative, Phoenix Monica Trejo, School Board Member, Tempe Corey D. Woods, Mayor, Tempe Arkansas Andrew Collins, State Representative, Little Rock Megan Godfrey, State Representative, Springdale Sonia Gutierrez, Councilmember, Fayetteville Lioneld Jordan, Mayor, Fayetteville Matthew Petty, Councilmember, Fayetteville Joy Springer, State Representative, Little Rock California Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Assemblymember, Sacramento Ben Allen, State Senator, Santa Monica John J. Bauters, Councilmember, Emeryville Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember, Los Angeles Maya Esparza, Councilmember, San Jose Kevin Faulconer, Mayor, San Diego Eric Garcetti, Mayor, Los Angeles Sam Hindi, Councilmember, Foster City Johnny Khamis, Councilmember, San Jose Paul Koretz, Councilmember, Los Angeles Sheila Kuehl, County Supervisor, Los Angeles Gordon Mar, City and County Supervisor, San Francisco Peggy McQuaid, Vice Mayor, Albany Lisa Middleton, Councilmember, Palm Springs Hillary Ronen, Supervisor, San Francisco Philip Y. Ting, Assemblymember, San Francisco Norman Yee, President, Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco Colorado KC Becker, State Representative, Boulder 4 Yadira Caraveo, State Representative, Thornton Lisa Cutter, State Representative, Littleton Stephen Fenberg, State Senate Majority Leader, Boulder Stacie Gilmore, Councilmember, Denver Julie Gonzales, State Senator, Denver Michael Hancock, Mayor, Denver Eva Henry, County Commissioner, Thornton John Kefalas, County Commissioner, Fort Collins Chris Kennedy, State Representative, Lakewood Cathy Kipp, State Representative, Fort Collins Robin Kniech, Councilwoman At-Large, Denver Jacob LaBure, Councilman, Lakewood Pete Lee, State Senator, Colorado Springs Susan Lontine, State Representative, Denver Dominick Moreno, State Senator, Commerce City Crystal Murillo, Councilmember, Aurora Deborah Ortega, Councilmember At-Large, Denver Dylan Roberts, State Representative, Avon Amanda P. Sandoval, Councilwoman, Denver Lauren Simpson, Councilmember, Arvada Sam Weaver, Mayor, Boulder Steven Woodrow, State Representative, Denver Connecticut Roland Lemar, State Representative, New Haven Matthew Lesser, State Senator, Middletown Edwin Vargas, State Representative, Hartford Delaware Bruce C. Ennis, State Senator, Dover District of Columbia Brianne K. Nadeau, Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Councilmember Elissa Silverman, Councilmember Florida Trish Becker, Special District County Commissioner, St. Augustine Christopher Benjamin, State Representative, Miami Gardens 5 Lori Berman, State Senator, Delray Beach Mack Bernard, County Commissioner, West Palm Beach Marlon Bolton, Mayor, Tamarac Emma Collum, Supervisor, Fort Lauderdale Fentrice Driskell, State Representative, Tampa Bobby DuBose, State Representative, Fort Lauderdale Nicholas Duran, State Representative, Miami Buddy Dyer, Mayor, Orlando Anna Eskamani, State Representative, Orlando Jelani Harvey, Supervisor, Plantation Sabrina Javellana, Vice Mayor, Hallandale Beach Evan Jenne, State Representative, Hollywood Shevrin Jones, State Representative, West Park Dotie Joseph, State Representative, Miami Vanessa Joseph, City Clerk, North Miami Sarah Leonardi, Broward School Board Member-Elect, Pompano Beach Amy Mercado, State Representative, Orlando Cindy Polo, State Representative, Hialeah Tina Polsky, State Representative, Boca Raton Harold Pryor, Broward County State Attorney-Elect, Broward County Chelsea Reed, Councilmember, Palm Beach Gardens Alissa Schafer, Supervisor, Soil & Water Conservation District, Pembroke Pines Joshua Simmons, Commissioner, Coral Springs Nick Sortal, Councilmember, Plantation Carlos Guillermo Smith, State Representative, Orlando Linda Stewart, State