The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has updated its data tool on U.S. refugee admissions and refugee resettlement ceilings, covering fiscal years 1980 through 2026, with admission figures running from October through May of the current fiscal year.

The tool records two parallel series that define the U.S. refugee system: the annual resettlement ceiling set by the President in consultation with Congress, and the actual number of refugees admitted each fiscal year against that ceiling. Together, the series span more than four decades of U.S. humanitarian admissions policy.

What does the dataset cover?

The MPI resource allows readers to compare, year by year:

• The presidentially determined refugee admissions ceiling for each fiscal year from FY 1980 to FY 2026;
• Actual refugee admissions recorded in each of those years;
• Partial-year figures for the current fiscal year, covering the October–May period.

Because refugee admissions are reported by fiscal year — which begins on October 1 — the October–May window represents the first eight months of FY 2026 as currently reported.

Who uses these figures?

Researchers, immigration practitioners, and policymakers rely on the ceiling-versus-admissions comparison as the standard measure of how U.S. refugee policy translates into outcomes. The gap between the two numbers shows whether the United States used the full humanitarian quota it set for itself in a given year.

The dataset's long horizon — starting in FY 1980, the year the Refugee Act of 1980 created the current admissions framework — makes it possible to trace how both ceilings and arrivals have shifted across administrations of both parties.

Where can readers verify the numbers?

The data tool is published by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization, and compiles official U.S. government admission statistics. Readers seeking the underlying figures for any fiscal year between 1980 and 2026, including the current October–May data, should consult the MPI resource directly, as figures for the ongoing fiscal year continue to be updated as additional months are reported.

Passport File reminds readers that this summary describes a statistical resource, not legal guidance. Individuals with questions about refugee status or resettlement should consult official U.S. government sources or a qualified immigration attorney.