January 28th, 2025

Dear Friends,

Restoring Dignity, alongside many other local organizations, is reaching out to our supporters with a critical concern. We are asking you to urgently contact your Congressional elected officials about the United States Refugee Admissions Program. 

  • President Trump signed an Executive Order on January 20th, 2025 that suspended the refugee program. This means that no one can come to the United States through the refugee program at this time. 
  • Every 90 days the President will receive a report about whether the program should be started again. 
  • The Executive Order also said that the States should decide if they want to receive refugees or not. 

All Nebraskans who are concerned about the plight of refugees need to be reaching out to their elected officials.

If our elected officials hear nothing from Nebraskans, they will assume that we do not care. We must make sure that our voice is heard, and that our elected officials know that NEBRASKA WANTS AND WELCOMES REFUGEES. 

We are urging you to reach out to your Congressional officials and your Senators, telling them that Nebraskans wants the United States Refugee Admissions Program restarted, and that we want to welcome refugees to our state. We have written a message at the bottom of this page that you can use. 

Step 1 of 2: Contact your CONGRESSIONAL representative (just the one representing your district)

We have three Congressional members in Nebraska, each representing a different district (use the map below to find your district). You will need to email or call your congressional representative (only one):

  • Rep. Mike Flood (District 1 – in red on the map)
  • Rep. Don Bacon (District 2 – in blue on the map) 
    • Online contact form: https://bacon.house.gov/contact/ (must enter zipcode at bottom of page to verify you live in District 2, in order to be taken to the contact form)
    • Nebraska Office: (402) 938-0300
    • Washington DC Office: (202) 225-4155
  • Rep. Adrian Smith (District 3 – in green on the map)

Step 2 of 2: Contact BOTH of your U.S. Senators:

We have two U.S. Senators in Nebraska, and you will need to contact each one separately (by online contact form or by calling):

  • Sen. Deb Fischer
  • Sen. Pete Ricketts

What you can say:

Dear Rep./Sen. _________, I am a Nebraska resident residing in district ____. As your constituent, I want you to know I support the US Refugee Admissions Program which creates safe and legal pathways for refugees fleeing violence, war, and religious persecution. I do not want to see this program weakened. Nebraska has a long and proud history of refugee resettlement and our state continues to benefit from participating in this vital program. I recently saw that President Trump issued an Executive Order that suspended the refugee program. He will review this decision every 90 days. I am urging you to contact President Trump and tell him that Nebraskans want and support the resettlement of refugees in our state!

Sincerely,

(Name) 

Facts about Refugees

  • The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, a highly vetted, secure and legal immigration pathway, provides a safe pathway for refugees to escape violence, war and genocide AND also significantly benefits America economically (win-win situation).
  • This program has been championed by Republicans, Democrats and Independents. It has received wide bipartisan support, because it is the right thing to do. In poll after poll, the vast majority of people from all political and religious belief systems support accepting refugees to the United States. 
  • This program has historically protected close to one hundred thousand individuals each year, who are living under brutal regimes and are fleeing genocide, civil war and religious persecution. Individuals who have fled religious persecution in repressive countries often bring deep gratitude for the freedoms they find in America, while enriching our communities economically.
  • Refugees are vetted by many agencies before being approved to come to the United States, including: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, State Department and USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate. 
  • Refugees undergo more rigorous vetting than any other immigrants to the U.S., ensuring that the resettlement process is highly secure. This vetting and the nature of the resettlement process make it “an unattractive option for terrorists trying to infiltrate the U.S.” Sustaining this legal opportunity for entry reduces the pressure on individuals to make their own way to the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • Refugees are work authorized upon their arrival in the United States and play a vital role in the labor market, addressing critical workforce shortages, and contributing to America’s economic growth. A study done by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that, over a 15-year period, refugees contributed a net positive $123 billion impact to the American economy.
  • Admitting refugees also promotes America’s strength abroad. Accepting refugees who are fleeing oppressive regimes signals to our geopolitical rivals that the United States remains an international leader. Accepting refugees and promoting stable resettlement also makes us strong partners to our allies. Presidents from both sides of the aisle have fervently supported the refugee program for decades. 
  • Refugees are a vital lifeline for states whose agricultural factories will significantly slow down if foreign-born workers are not arriving to the states. Allowing refugees into the U.S. will help us protect and stabilize our food supply. For example, the price of meat will most certainly increase if we do not have enough workers who can operate our food processing facilities. Nebraska is an example. It is one of the leaders in the nation for meat packing and processing, and there are some meat facilities where over 90% of the workers are foreign-born, including many who came to the U.S. as refugees. Nebraska also has one of the most severe labor shortages, with only 39 workers for every 100 jobs. 
  • Nebraska is #1 in resettling refugees per capita, more than any other state! 
  • Only 1% of refugees worldwide get resettled in another country each year.