Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs

This presidential determination authorizes up to $500 million from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund to address urgent refugee and migration needs stemming from the Afghanistan crisis, including for Special Immigrant Visa applicants. The funds may be distributed bilaterally, multilaterally, through international organizations, NGOs, foreign governments, and U.S. agencies.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 46757

Impact dates

Date TBD
Submission to Congress with Justification and Federal Register publication

Key directives

Authorize up to $500 million from Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund
Direct Secretary of State to submit determination to Congress with accompanying Justification
Direct Secretary of State to publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

$500 million authorized for refugee and migration assistance
funds available for bilateral and multilateral distribution

Near term (90d)

disbursement of assistance through international organizations, NGOs, and governments

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Timing ambiguity: 'authorized and directed to submit' lacks explicit deadline
Scale of Afghanistan crisis in August 2021 may have exceeded $500M capacity
Bilateral vs multilateral channel selection carries diplomatic implications