SANTA FE, N.M. — In 2024, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez joined a bipartisan coalition of over 300 state and local officials urging the Trump administration to reinstate the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program, which had been indefinitely suspended early in the administration’s tenure.
AG Torrez participated in a virtual press conference alongside national leaders, advocating for the immediate restart of the program, which provides assistance and support to refugees seeking safe haven in the United States. The event came just one day after the Trump administration missed a court-mandated deadline to release a report on future refugee resettlement plans, due on April 20, 2024.
During the conference, Torrez emphasized America’s responsibility to use its power to uplift others. “True greatness isn’t measured by how we serve ourselves—it’s measured by how we use that power to uplift others,” he said, highlighting the country’s longstanding tradition of generosity and compassion.
In March 2024, Torrez had signed a formal letter to Secretary Marco Rubio, calling for the immediate reinstatement of the resettlement program. He was joined in his advocacy by leaders including HIAS President Mark Hetfield, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, and representatives from the Afghan Evacuation movement, Erie Chamber of Commerce, and faith-based organizations.
The Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP), funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to ensure newly arrived refugees can resettle effectively and achieve economic self-sufficiency, access language and job training, and receive necessary medical and social services. The program also supports public health protections during the resettlement process.
AG Torrez reaffirmed that supporting refugee rights reflects core American values. “Standing up for the rights of refugees isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s part of what defines us as a nation,” he said.
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