Boston, New York City, Clarkston, Pittsburgh and 8 cities across the country submitted a joint comment in response to the call by U.S. Department of State for public comment on the size and scope of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.  

Co-signed by the heads of city agencies, the comment echoes municipalities' unique investment in refugee resettlement: "As heads of city agencies, we experience firsthand the positive contributions of refugees in our cities. They have become our neighbors, colleagues, and classmates. They are woven into the fabric of our communities and our country, and make us stronger economically, socially, and culturally. We support the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and applaud the President for increasing the ceiling for refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2016."

Furthermore, the comment urges the U.S. Department of State to recommend that the President establish a higher ceiling for refugee admissions into the United States for Fiscal Year 2017, in recognition that a humanitarian crisis continues to persist.

Click here for the full text of the letter.