Toolkit: Mobilizing Against Anti-Refugee/Asylum Legislation in States
Since 2017, the number of anti-refugee/asylum bills in state legislatures has been trending downwards, while the number of pro-refugee bills increased year over year, reaching an all-time high in 2023 with over 180 bills introduced. This tremendous progress, despite a backdrop of politicized rhetoric and federal paralysis on immigration policy, is the result of successful bipartisan collaboration across the nation in support of refugee resettlement and state policies that create opportunities for people seeking safety to restart their lives and contribute to their new homes.
Over the last year, however, there has been a significant uptick in both the number of anti-refugee/asylum bills and the number of states where they are being introduced. The number of negative bills doubled between 2022 and 2023, and there have been nearly 60 already introduced since January 2024.
In response to requests for assistance, the Refugee Advocacy Lab, International Refugee Assistance Project, International Rescue Committee, and the American Immigration Council have developed this resource to assist advocates, local resettlement agencies, and partners in the field to combat anti-refugee/asylum legislation. This toolkit explains the different types of anti-refugee/asylum bills, legislative strategies and tactics to combat them, and effective messaging to counteract the narratives that drive these bills.
