U.S. refugee intake falls to historic low under Trump-era caps
Refugee admissions to the United States in the first ten months of the fiscal year are on track to be the lowest on record, driven by the Trump administration's reduced ceiling.
A new analysis of State Department statistics by the Pew Research Center indicates that U.S. refugee admissions during the first ten months of the fiscal year are poised to reach a record low, with only 10,258 individuals accepted, the majority being white South Africans. This decline follows the steep reduction that began when President Donald Trump entered his second term, and it is far below the 38,102 refugees admitted in fiscal 2025 and the 100,034 admitted the previous year under President Joe Biden.
The Trump administration has capped the 2026 refugee ceiling at 17,500, the lowest level in a quarter-century. Refugee intake has historically ebbed after the September 11 attacks and during Trump’s first term, but from 2001 to 2026 the United States typically welcomed around 50,000 refugees annually. An executive order in February 2025 prioritized Afrikaner applicants, a move contested by South African officials. In recent years, most refugees have originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo and other conflict-affected nations such as Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
Why it matters
The drop signals a major shift in U.S. humanitarian policy, affecting thousands seeking safety worldwide.
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