Political Quotes

“I rise today in recognition of World Refugee Day on June 20. On December 4, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate June 20 as World Refugee Day. Each year on this day, we have an opportunity to honor the women, men, and children who have faced such extreme persecution, conflict, and violence that they have been forced to flee their homes and their communities. I am as saddened by their losses as I am impressed by the strength, courage, and resilience demonstrated by their commitment to protecting their families and building new communities around the world. There are more than 45 million refugees and internally displaced persons globally. With so many people unable to return to their homes, I am proud to be part of a nation that was built on the basic principle that all men and women were created equal and that all people have basic rights, no matter where they come from. Since 1975, our great Nation has welcomed more than 3 million refugees, and we continue to allow thousands of refugees to permanently relocate here every year. The United States is also the world's largest donor to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Today, we recognize that every minute, eight people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution, or terror. We recognize that nearly half of all refugees are younger than 18 years old.…”