Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms officially affirmed the City of Atlanta’s participation in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programs (USRAP) via letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo.

“America has a well-documented history of helping the downtrodden in their times of need, and to turn our backs on those who are suffering is to turn our backs on the highest ideals of freedom this nation,” said Mayor Bottoms.

In September, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) 13888, which states that the federal government "should resettle refugees only in those jurisdictions in which both the State and local governments have consented to receive refugees under the Department of State’s Reception and Placement Program."

In her letter, Mayor Bottoms made clear that “communication about, or participation in, the implementation of EO 13888 is not an endorsement of the legality of the EO.”

In the federal fiscal year 2019, refugee resettlement agencies in Georgia welcomed 1,330 refugees. Georgia’s self-sufficiency rates in the refugee community are among the highest in the nation—between 86% and 91% of refugees were financially self-sufficient—working and paying their own bills—within six months of their arrival.

Mayor Bottoms’ letter serves as a formal notice of written consent to continued refugee settlement in the city of Atlanta. The formal notice can be used by the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA) and other advocacy groups to continue to provide assistance and services to refugees in Georgia.