    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 8538--JUNE 18, 2010

    Proclamation 8538 of June 18, 2010
    World Refugee Day, 2010
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    On World Refugee Day, we honor the contributions and resilience of those
    forced to flee from their homelands due to violence, persecution, or
    natural disasters. The hard-earned wisdom, diverse experiences, and
    unceasing courage of refugees enrich our Nation and strengthen our
    unique narrative--that America stands as a beacon of hope and opens our
    doors to those in need. Today, we celebrate the triumph of the human
    spirit exemplified by these displaced individuals, and acknowledge the
    compassion of those who welcome them into their homes and communities.
    This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980. This
    historic legislation championed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy created the
    current Federal Refugee Resettlement Program and codified into law the
    right to asylum for refugees. Through the Refugee Act and continued
    humanitarian aid, America's leadership in international relief efforts
    and in defense of human rights has helped expand protections for
    countless refugees, internally displaced persons, and other victims
    around the world.
    Some refugees face bleak prospects of returning to their native soil,
    and they must find security in peaceful areas. Many uprooted people have
    found safe haven in America, bringing with them determination and
    optimism to contribute to our cultural, economic, and intellectual
    fabric. Welcoming more refugee men, women, and children than any other
    country, the United States has provided a home to some of the world's
    most vulnerable individuals, enriching our own country and advancing our
    leadership in the world.
    Refugees face daunting challenges in an unfamiliar society with new
    rules, new resources, and often a new language. Yet, in spite of all
    they have faced--harrowing acts of violence or devastation, flight
    across borders in search of aid and shelter, uncertain and often
    prolonged stays in camps, and travel to a strange country--refugees are
    survivors. Living in the United States presents an opportunity to move
    forward, one that countless refugees from all over the globe have
    embraced. Their remarkable determination to rebuild a brighter future
    after great adversity embodies our Nation's promise and spirit of
    boundless possibility.

    On June 20, we recognize the past 30 years of refugee resettlement and
    protection in the United States as a demonstration of our overall
    efforts in support of people in need around the world. Recognizing the
    continuing challenges and barriers faced by refugees, my Administration
    has undertaken a comprehensive review of the United States Refugee
    Admissions Program, with the goal of strengthening support for refugees
    and those who assist them. This will build on the vital work of
    international organizations like the Office of the United Nations High
    Commissioner for Refugees, which provide emergency food, shelter,
    medical care, and other types of assistance to those uprooted by crisis.
    As we commemorate World Refugee Day, we recommit to ensuring that

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    the blessings of liberty and opportunity are available to all who seek
    it.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2010, as
    World Refugee Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to
    observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of
    June, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
    BARACK OBAMA