Today is the 45th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980.

Today is the 45th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980. The legislation established the U.S. refugee resettlement program, created the Office of Refugee Resettlement, expanded annual admissions, and aligned the definition of “refugee” with United Nations standards as someone with a “well-founded fear of persecution.”

On January 20 the Trump Administration indefinitely suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and according to sources not a single refugee has entered the U.S. this past month – which is the first month since the Refugee Act was enacted that the U.S. had no refugee admissions.

Congress is on recess from March 17-21. Maine’s congressional delegation includes Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Congressman Jared Golden, Senator Angus King, and Senator Susan Collins.