John Cusey on rebuilding America’s tradition of welcoming refugees

Thanksgiving is a great American holiday and welcoming refugees to our country has been, and should be again, a great American tradition. Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow welcome John Cusey to the roundtable to talk about one of his career passions, caring for refugees. John is currently the Vice President of Communications at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He has a rich career of government service throughout Washington across multiple administrations and in Congress. Most recently John served in the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the Department of Health and Human Services.

America’s refugee resettlement program has fallen short of our ideals in recent years by turning inward due to a rising trend of nationalism in our politics. Jeff, Travis, and John believe that Christians can lead the revitalization of America’s commitment to be a beacon of freedom and safe harbor for the endangered and persecuted.

This episode is sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of the advent family devotional, A Better Than Anything Christmas. Find out more about this book at thegoodbook.com.

Guest Biography

John Cusey is the Vice President of Communications at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He has a long record of government service including working for multiple presidential administrations and members of Congress. In 2019, John served in the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the Department of Health and Human Services. In his time on Capitol Hill, he served as the Executive Director of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-life Caucus for five years with Congressman Chris Smith and as the Legislative Director and Press Secretary for Congressman Gary Miller for two years. Prior to working in DC, John worked for three different Members of the California State Legislature where he focused on budget issues.

Resources from the Conversation

• Check out Governor Herbert’s letter notifying President Trump of Utah’s desire to welcome more refugees and the letter refugees who resettled in Utah wrote to Governor Herbert
• Check out the Sriracha documentary John mentioned
• How the Refugee and Asylum System Works in the US by Joe Carter
• Southern Baptists: A History of Refugee Care by Travis Wussow
• Lets Demand Honesty in Refugee Rhetoric by Matt Hawkins
• 7 Ways to Serve our Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors During a Pandemic by Eric Costanzo
• Check out The Good Book Company
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter