OfflineIn August 2017, the Burmese military launched a campaign of terror against the Rohingya, a Muslim minority community in western Burma. Homes were burned, families were attacked, and entire villages were wiped out. These atrocities — recognized by the United Nations as genocide — forced more than 900,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, seeking safety after losing everything.
Nearly a Decade of Deprivation and Displacement
Today, almost one million Rohingya refugees remain in overcrowded, under‑resourced camps in Cox’s Bazar. Families face food shortages, unsafe living conditions, human trafficking risks, and very few opportunities for children to learn or for adults to earn a living. Thousands more Rohingya are sheltering in camps in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries, where they continue to need long‑term protection and support.
U.S. Leadership Disappeared Overnight
The United States has played a leading role in responding to the Rohingya crisis — providing humanitarian assistance, helping families access education and livelihoods, and pushing for accountability for genocide and other crimes against humanity.
Our country has also been a leader in welcoming Rohingya refugees and other vulnerable groups from Burma. Across Republican and Democratic administrations, Burma has been one of the top countries of origin in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Burmese communities have put down roots in states like Michigan and Indiana, strengthening local economies and enriching America’s cultural life.
Despite this long‑standing bipartisan commitment — and the clear continued need for resettlement — not a single Rohingya refugee has been admitted to the United States this year under current refugee and travel policies. That needs to change.
A Critical Window to Help
The plight of the Rohingya is exactly the kind of crisis the U.S. refugee admissions program was created to address.
As the U.S. government sets its refugee policy for the next fiscal year, we ask our grassroots supporters to reach out to their Members of Congress and urge them to support the inclusion of Rohingya refugees in the FY 2027 Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions.
