Advocate says U.S. should strengthen asylum programs ahead of World Refugee Day

Almost 120 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes last year, according to a UN report out this month ahead of World Refugee Day. That’s up by almost 10 million from the agency’s count from 2022.

Wendy Young, president of aid group Kids in Need of Defense, says about 40% of the world’s displaced people are children. U.S. resettlement initiatives like the Central American Minors program can help some reunite with family in the U.S.

"This program was stood up specifically to address the needs of displaced children from Central America, with a focus on Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, with the recognition that we were seeing a dramatically increased number of these children arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border," she said.

The program was established in 2014 and has minors apply from their home countries to resettle in the U.S. — either under parole or as refugees. Young said it has helped children avoid making the dangerous journey to the border alone, but policymakers should strengthen by providing legal aid and allowing people to apply from other countries they may have fled to.

The U.N.'s 2023 report identifies almost 7 million displaced people as asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, a new executive order from President Joe Biden restricts the ability to ask for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, despite international agreements that require it.

Some have also suggested introducing caps on the number of people allowed to apply for asylum — citing the backlogged court system.

Young said that doesn’t make sense.

"If you put on a numerical cap, what you’re going to do end up doing is sacrificing people who do qualify for refugee status and that means they’re being returned to situations of danger," she said.

Young said policymakers should instead continue thinking about new pathways for people who are displaced by violence or other threats, but may not fit the definition of a refugee.