Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs To Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration

This executive order revokes Trump-era restrictions on refugee resettlement and directs a comprehensive rebuilding and expansion of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). It mandates multiple reviews and reports to streamline vetting, reduce backlogs, improve protections for vulnerable groups, and address Special Immigrant Visa delays for Iraqi and Afghan allies. It also orders the first-ever U.S. government report on climate change's impact on migration.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 8839

Impact dates

Aug 3, 2021
SIV program review and report with recommendations
Aug 3, 2021
SIV Chief of Mission approval procedures review results
Aug 3, 2021
Report on additional populations at risk from service to U.S. and potential legislative SIV expansion
Aug 3, 2021
SIV policies and procedures publicly available on agency websites; future revisions within 30 days of issuance
Aug 3, 2021
USRAP current policies publicly available on websites; future revisions within 30 days of adoption
Aug 3, 2021
Options for improving USRAP applicants' access to case file materials for appeals
Aug 3, 2021
Report on climate change and its impact on migration
Jun 4, 2021
Plan to expand community sponsorship and public-private partnerships for USRAP
Jun 4, 2021
Plan to address USRAP processing backlogs with process improvement recommendations
May 5, 2021
Report on agency actions under revoked directives with maintain/reverse/modify recommendations
Apr 5, 2021
Security Advisory Opinion country/criteria review meeting
Mar 6, 2021
Report on fraud detection measures and enhancement plan for USRAP
Mar 6, 2021
Data submission to National Vetting Governance Board on refugee vetting staffing and thresholds

Key directives

Revoke EO 13815 and EO 13888 and March 6, 2017 Memorandum
Designate NSC Senior Director for USRAP coordination
Designate senior State Department official for refugee application processing
Designate senior DHS official for vetting and adjudication policy
Assign US Digital Service team to streamline processing and improve vetting
Expand hiring authorities for refugee adjudication positions
Develop plan to address USRAP backlogs and meet 8 U.S.C. 1571(b) processing times
Review and report on climate change and migration nexus
Improve SIV programs for Iraqi and Afghan allies
Expand community sponsorship models
Consider recognizing unmarried committed life partnerships for derivative refugee status

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of EO 13815, EO 13888, and March 6, 2017 Presidential Memorandum
Designation of senior officials for USRAP coordination and oversight

Near term (90d)

Report on fraud detection measures and enhancement plan (30 days)
Data submission to National Vetting Governance Board on refugee vetting staffing and thresholds (30 days)
Security Advisory Opinion country/criteria review meeting (60 days)
Report on agency actions taken under revoked directives with recommendations (90 days)

Long term

SIV program reviews and reports (180 days)
USRAP policy transparency requirements (180 days)
Climate change and migration report (180 days)
Plan to expand community sponsorship and public-private partnerships (120 days)
Plan to address USRAP processing backlogs (120 days)
Implementation of vetting and adjudication reforms

Risks & tensions

Subject to availability of appropriations may limit implementation without Congressional funding
Processing time goals under 8 U.S.C. 1571(b) may conflict with enhanced security vetting requirements
State/local involvement revocation may face political pushback in some jurisdictions
Climate change migration report has no binding policy effect; implementation uncertain
Vague 'consider' and 'explore' language in many directives creates uncertainty about concrete actions
Expanding SIV eligibility to additional nationalities may require legislation not guaranteed