Immigration

Refugee admissions

14 public statements from 2026 candidates

§1The range of views

Why this matters: Refugee policy decides whether people fleeing persecution abroad can start new lives here, and it affects the communities that take them in.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

How many refugees the US resettles each year, a ceiling the president sets, which fell from 125,000 for fiscal year 2025 to 7,500 for 2026, later raised to 17,500, the same ceiling set for 2027, with the places since 2026 mainly for Afrikaners from South Africa.1,2,3,4

  1. Pause most refugee admissions
  2. Keep a low ceiling, such as the 17,500 set for 2027
  3. Return to higher ceilings, such as the 125,000 set for 2025

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Return to higher ceilings, such as the 125,000 set for 2025 (2)

  • Edward J. Markey MA Senate
    His campaign website says he would expand refugee admissions so the United States remains a safe haven for people fleeing persecution.5
  • Ilhan Omar MN-5
    It says the United States should admit more refugees and asylum-seekers.6

Statements that don't match one option (12)

  • Joe Neguse CO-2
    His campaign website says he co-chairs the Bipartisan Refugee Caucus and is working through legislation such as the GRACE Act to keep the United States a leader on refugee resettlement.7
  • Henry "Hank" Johnson, Jr. GA-4
    His campaign website says he supports refugees and supports recognizing the rights of refugees.8,9
  • Pro-Life ID Governor
    His campaign website says the federal government should stop sending refugees to Idaho who have not been vetted, and that Idaho should vet all refugees headed to the state.10
  • Sean Casten IL-6
    His campaign website lists cosponsoring a resolution saying the House is committed to keeping the United States open to people lawfully seeking refuge and asylum, regardless of their race or country of origin.11
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says he will fully fund refugee resettlement programs and expand asylum programs.12
  • Brad Schneider IL-10
    His campaign website says he supports investing in enhanced screening programs for people entering the country and would vigorously oppose any effort to ban a religious or ethnic group as a whole.13
  • André Carson IN-7
    His campaign website says the country should welcome refugees from around the world, and that he has always advocated for the rights of immigrants and refugees to make a home in the United States.14
  • Brad A. Meyer IN-9
    His campaign website says the United States has a moral obligation to prioritize vulnerable refugees and people seeking asylum from the abuse of dictators, with careful vetting.15
  • Lori Loureiro Trahan MA-3
    A Policy Priorities page that appears only in her campaign website's site map says the United States should do its share to shelter people fleeing crises, including by accepting refugees and asylum seekers.16
  • Helene Neville ND-AL
    Her campaign website lists maintaining a humane refugee system, consistent with American values, as part of the immigration reform she supports.17
  • Winston Jordan NJ-12
    His policy platform website lists restoring asylum and expanding refugee resettlement.18
  • Rebecca Bextel WY Governor
    Her campaign website says she would withdraw Wyoming from the federal refugee resettlement program.19