The United States has a long and proud tradition of refugee resettlement, especially for individuals fleeing authoritarian governments and failing states. In a 1981 speech on immigration, President Ronald Reagan remarked that “We shall continue America’s tradition as a land that welcomes peoples from other countries. We shall also, with other countries, continue to share in the responsibility of welcoming and resettling those who flee oppression.” In stark contrast, by dramatically slashing refugee resettlement levels, President Donald Trump is greatly shrinking the United States’ capacity to extend this helping hand to oppressed peoples, including today those of Venezuela.

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