U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program Status and Economic Contributions of Immigrant Groups

The claim that the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program has been indefinitely suspended nationwide is inaccurate. While a temporary pause was introduced in January 2025 by executive order, a federal judge ruled the suspension unlawful and issued an injunction, requiring the program to continue operating (Human Rights First, 2025). As of early 2025, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) remains legally active, with refugee admissions authorized under the presidential cap of 125,000, although actual numbers remain below that ceiling due to logistical challenges and political pressures (Migration Policy Institute, 2024).

Refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented immigrants represent distinct legal categories. Refugees are processed and admitted from abroad through USRAP after rigorous vetting and are eligible for resettlement benefits and a pathway to permanent residency. Asylum seekers apply for protection at a U.S. border or from within the country and must go through an adjudication process. Until granted asylum, they are ineligible for most federal benefits and may not work legally for at least 180 days after filing their claim (American Immigration Council, 2024). Undocumented immigrants enter without authorization or overstay visas and generally lack legal access to employment and federal assistance, though many contribute economically and live in mixed-status households.

The oft-cited statistic that refugees and asylees contribute a net $123.8 billion to the U.S. economy over 15 years is accurate. A 2024 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that from 2005 to 2019, refugees and those granted asylum contributed $581 billion in tax revenue while receiving $457 billion in public assistance, yielding a net fiscal benefit of $123.8 billion (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2024). Refugees have high workforce participation rates and, over time, achieve economic parity or exceed the median U.S. income. For example, refugees residing in the U.S. for at least 20 years had a median income of $71,000 in 2019, surpassing national medians (New American Economy, 2020). Refugees are also more likely to start businesses, with 13 percent identified as entrepreneurs compared to 9 percent of U.S.-born individuals (New American Economy, 2020).

Asylum seekers who have not yet received a decision contribute less initially due to restrictions on legal employment. Once granted asylum, however, they follow similar economic patterns as resettled refugees, becoming active contributors to the workforce and tax base (American Immigration Council, 2024).

Undocumented immigrants also play a significant economic role. Approximately 8.3 million undocumented individuals participated in the U.S. labor force in 2022, representing 4.8 percent of the total workforce (Pew Research Center, 2023). Despite their ineligibility for most federal programs, they paid an estimated $96.7 billion in combined state, local, and federal taxes in 2022 (Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 2023). Many also contribute to Social Security without receiving benefits, further offsetting public expenditures (Social Security Administration, 2021). Although undocumented immigrants may indirectly impose some local costs, especially in education and emergency healthcare, their tax contributions significantly counterbalance these impacts.

Across legal statuses, refugees, asylees, and undocumented immigrants all provide substantial economic value to the United States, particularly in workforce participation, tax contributions, and entrepreneurship.

References (APA format)

American Immigration Council. (2024). Asylum in the United States. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/asylum-united-states

Human Rights First. (2025). Federal court blocks executive order halting refugee admissions. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org

Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (2023). Undocumented immigrants’ state & local tax contributions. https://itep.org/immigration

Migration Policy Institute. (2024). Refugee resettlement in the United States: Policy updates and trends. https://www.migrationpolicy.org

New American Economy. (2020). Refugee economic impact report. https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/issues/refugees/

Pew Research Center. (2023). Facts on U.S. immigrants, 2022. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/08/14/facts-about-u-s-immigrants/

Social Security Administration. (2021). Contributions of unauthorized immigrants to the Social Security system. https://www.ssa.gov/policy

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). The fiscal impact of refugees and asylees: 2005–2019. https://www.hhs.gov