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2017-2021 ARCHIVED CONTENT

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Our Mission

The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) is the humanitarian bureau of the State Department. PRM promotes U.S. interests by providing protection, easing suffering, and resolving the plight of persecuted and forcibly displaced people around the world. We do this by coordinating humanitarian policy and diplomacy, providing life-sustaining assistance, working with multilateral organizations to build global partnerships, and promoting best practices in humanitarian response.

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Key Topics

Humanitarian Assistance Overseas

PRM supports efforts to protect and assist refugees and vulnerable migrants around the world. We maintain our enduring humanitarian commitments by working to assist refugees and other displaced people as close to their home countries as possible until they can safely and voluntarily return.

Learn More About Humanitarian Assistance by Region Humanitarian Assistance Overseas

Refugee Admissions

On September 30, the Department of State, together with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services, submitted the President’s Report to Congress on the Proposed Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2021. Following consultation with Congress, the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions will be issued by the White House. In FY 2021, the United States anticipates resettling up to 15,000 refugees.

Learn More About The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Refugee Admissions

Policy Issues

Through humanitarian diplomacy and close work with foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations, PRM supports protection and assistance to ease the suffering of the most vulnerable around the world, seeks durable solutions to their plight and contributes to broader USG and international efforts to resolve conflicts that cause displacement. The U.S. leads the world as the largest single humanitarian donor. We expect others to help share in the burden and responsibility of assisting refugees and other displaced people.

Learn More About Our Specific Policies Policy Issues

U.S. Department of State

The Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future