WASHINGTON—Refugees International today released a statement from 14 former U.S. government officials who have worked on migration, refugee, and humanitarian issues for Democratic and Republican administrations over the past four decades. The statement praises President-elect Biden’s proposed senior national security officials for their leadership on refugee and migration affairs.
The statement and the names of the endorsers follow:
“As former U.S. government officials who have collectively served every Democratic and Republican Administration since 1980, we applaud the senior-level national security nominations and appointment announced by President-elect Biden last week. Antony Blinken, Alejandro Mayorkas, Avril Haines, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Jake Sullivan have deep leadership experience in refugee and migration affairs. They have repeatedly demonstrated their understanding of the national interests served both by strong U.S. support for refugee, migration, and humanitarian assistance overseas, as well as polices that recognize the contributions made by refugees who have been resettled in the United States.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of resettled refugees—our neighbors—are serving as front-line workers in the health and other service professions, and it is encouraging that very senior officials of the new administration appreciate the enormous contributions that our fellow Americans are making to communities throughout the country.”
Signatories of the statement include:
Alex Aleinikoff
Former United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees (2010–15)
Former General Counsel and Former Executive Associate Commissioner for Programs
Immigration and Naturalization Service (1994–1997)
Ryan Crocker
Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (2011–12), Iraq (2007–09), Pakistan (2004–07), Syria (1998–2001), Kuwait (1994– 97), and Lebanon (1990–93)
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs (2001–03)
Jeffrey DeLaurentis
Former Ambassador and Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (2011–2014)
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Arthur “Gene” Dewey
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (2002–2005)
Former United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees (1986–1990)
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the Bureau of Refugee Programs (1981–1986)
David J. Kramer
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2008–09)
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (2005–2008)
Mark Lagon
Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2007–2009)
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Organization Affairs (2004–07)
Frank Loy
Former Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs (1998-2001)
Former Director of the Bureau of Refugee Programs (1980–1981)
William L. Nash
U.S. Army Major General (Ret.)
Thomas R. Pickering
Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (1997–2000)
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1989–92)
Former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan (1974–78), Nigeria (1981–83), El Salvador (1983–85), Israel (1985–88), India (1992–93), and Russia (1993–96)
James N. Purcell, Jr.
Former Director General of the International Organization for Migration (1988–1998)
Former Director of the Bureau for Refugee Programs (1983–1986)
Anne C. Richard
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (2012–17)
Former Director of the Office of Resources, Plans, and Policy, Department of State (1999–2001)
Myrta (Chris) Sale
Former Acting Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service (1993)
Former Deputy Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service
Eric Schwartz
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (2009–2011)
Former NSC Senior Director for Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs (1998-2001)
Paul W. Virtue
Former General Counsel of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1998-1999)
Former Acting Associate Commissioner for Programs of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1997-1998) Former Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1988-1997)
For press inquiries, please contact Refugees International Director of Communications Sarah Sheffer at ssheffer@
Sarah Sheffer
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Director of Communications
Refugees International
W: +1 202 540 7029
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