Casten Responds to Ukrainian-American Constituent Needs, Calling on Biden to Raise the Refugee Cap

Statement

Today, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement calling on President Biden to raise the refugee cap and applauding the President's announcement that the U.S. will commit to accepting 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. In recent weeks, Casten's constituent casework team has worked with Ukrainian-American constituencies desperate to help their loved ones reach safety in the U.S. Given the extent of backlogs and delays facing those seeking to immigrate or receive temporary refuge, Casten encourages the administration to think of more innovative changes to expeditiously reunite Ukrainian Americans with their family.

Earlier today, Casten joined Representatives David Cicilline (RI-01) and Bill Pascrell (NJ-09) in a letter urging the Biden administration to take steps to create a robust resettlement program for Ukrainian refugees within the United States, including raising the refugee cap, ensuring that Ukrainians are eligible for priority resettlement, and expediting applications for humanitarian immigration programs.

Casten said, "In the weeks since Putin initiated his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces have undeniably engaged in war crimes through indiscriminate attacks and targeting of civilians--destroying apartment buildings, schools, maternity hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, theaters, ambulances, and orphanages without concern for the innocent lives they are taking. Russia's brutal attacks have left thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded.

"My office has received dozens of calls from constituents in Chicagoland desperate to reunite with their Ukrainian loved ones seeking to escape the war. However, their Ukrainian families are being refused American visas because they are unable to prove their intent to return to their home country after visiting the United States -- a near impossible feat given the uncertainty surrounding how long this invasion will last. My heart shatters every time a constituent tells me about their loved ones sleeping in the streets, families torn apart, or facing uncertainty about their survival as they flee for their lives--all holding out hope that they will be welcomed somewhere safe.

"The United States has always stood as a beacon of hope for the tired, poor, and huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Despite our imperfections, we have sought to protect basic human rights and stand up for freedom and democracy across the globe. In that tradition, we have a duty to welcome Ukrainian refugees and strengthen our refugee program. While I am greatly relieved that today, President Biden announced that the United States will step up as an international leader to welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and others fleeing Russia's aggression through the full range of legal pathway, I urge the Biden administration to take additional steps to expedite applications for humanitarian immigration programs and raise the refugee cap to ensure that Ukrainians and others fleeing violence and persecution are able to find safety in America. We have both an opportunity, and an obligation, to uphold our American values by receiving refugees with open arms."

As the Russian Military continues their atrocities, more than 3 million Ukrainian refugees have fled their homes, and more than 4 million Ukrainians are expected to flee. Putin's invasion has upended international norms and created the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe in decades.

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