Refugee admissions to the U.S. are dropping sharply in Trump’s second term
- The Welcome Table
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According to a recent Pew Research Center analysis, U.S. refugee admissions have dropped sharply during President Donald Trump’s second term, falling to just over 10,000 in the first ten months of fiscal year 2026 under a record-low admissions ceiling. This decline is accompanied by a dramatic shift in demographics, with South African refugees now accounting for nearly all admissions following an executive order prioritizing Afrikaners. Consequently, the United States has fallen behind Canada and Australia in global refugee resettlements, marking a significant departure from its historical role as a leading destination for world refugees.
This article was originally published in Pew Research Center on August 17, 2026, and was written by Shifra Dayak.