# The GRACE Act: What You Need to Know About Refugee Admissions

The GRACE Act sets a minimum floor of 125,000 refugees that the United States must admit each year, unless the President makes a formal determination to admit a different number. Right now, the President has flexibility to set refugee admission numbers year to year with no guaranteed minimum. This bill changes that by requiring at least 125,000 refugees annually, unless the President actively decides otherwise and explains why. If the President doesn't make any decision before a fiscal year begins, the number automatically becomes 125,000.

The bill also requires the President to consider global refugee needs when making these decisions. Specifically, the administration must look at reports from the United Nations about how many refugees worldwide need resettlement and take that into account. The bill also requires the President to divide the 125,000 (or whatever higher number is set) among different regions of the world, with some flexibility to shift numbers between regions if urgent needs arise in particular areas.

To keep Congress informed about how the refugee program is actually working, the bill requires the administration to submit detailed quarterly reports. These reports must show how many refugees were admitted each quarter, how that compares to the goal, how long the application process takes, approval and denial rates, and details about interview trips officers make to process applications. The bill also requires a plan explaining how the government will meet its admission targets, including monthly projections.

The bill doesn't change security screening or other requirements for refugees—it simply establishes a minimum commitment and adds transparency requirements so Congress and the public can track whether the government is meeting its refugee admission goals.