A group of about 40 young people pose in front of the U.S. Capitol building wearing wintry clothes.

Policy Department

IRAP has a formidable track record of successful advocacy at the systemic level: our policy advocacy has helped enact into law federal and local legislation offering life-saving visas and legal protections for tens of thousands of displaced people.

Our advocacy model utilizes lessons learned in individual casework to advocate for systemic changes that benefit broader refugee populations.

IRAP builds non-traditional, non-partisan coalitions to improve displaced people’s access to pathways to safety, and to ensure those pathways provide procedural integrity, operate with transparency, and treat applicants with dignity. 

Visit our News and Resources page to read our latest policy reports.

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Protecting and Expanding U.S. Refugee Resettlement

In the wake of existing anti-refugee policies and the hope of improved refugee protection in the United States, IRAP’s systemic advocacy seeks to protect and expand the U.S. refugee admissions program and ensure that vulnerable refugees can continue to reach safety in the U.S.

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A United States flag on a flagpole is light from behind against a clear blue sky, giving the flag a translucent appearance.

Our Response to the Needs of Iraqi and Afghan Allies

The United States’ presence in Iraq and Afghanistan has relied on the life-saving assistance of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans who put themselves in danger to serve alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and contractors. Since 2008, IRAP has worked to expand pathways to safety for these allies.

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An Afghan interpreter and a U.S. soldier, both dressed in desert fatigues, talk to an Afghan man with a beard and mustache, who wears a white shirt with a banded collar and a light grey vest. The U.S. soldier carries multiple weapons, and the interpreter wears glasses and a protective vest. They are standing in front of a brick building.

Private Sponsorship

Private sponsorship of refugees can offer organizations, companies, and philanthropies the opportunity to support the resettlement of refugees. IRAP’s Policy Department is working with partner organizations to explore how private sponsorship could be piloted in the United States.

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An interpreter from the International Organization for Migration works alongside a Canadian official to interview a Syrian refugee family. The staff is separated from the family by white tables. The Syrian woman wears a head covering, and everyone is smiling.