Timothy Cham and his wife, Abang Otong, escaped a brutal war in South Sudan. They are among the 1% of refugees worldwide who have a chance to resettle in another country.  They arrived in the United States eight months ago to resettle in Baltimore, MD with support from the International Rescue Committee. Both Timothy and Abang are working in Baltimore, and their sons Akway and Emmanuel are doing very well in school.

Before the Refugee Act of 1980, refugee resettlement in the U.S. was largely conducted privately or through community groups. The act standardized the process and today most refugees in the U.S. are primarily welcomed through resettlement agencies, such as the International Rescue Committee.

For nearly 40 years the United States resettlement program has been the best in the world, providing safety and opportunity to millions of refugees. But in his first week in office President Donald Trump signed an executive order that threatens to pull back the welcome mat.

In this Rescue Facts, IRC humanitarian Tracy Reines shares how cutting refugee resettlement will cost the United States in the long run. The Trump Administration’s own report showed that, over a decade, refugees generated over $63 billion more in revenue for federal, state and local governments than the U.S. actually spent on welcoming them. Learn how you can help.