Thread by @doug_rand

President Biden just signed an executive order on "rebuilding & enhancing" U.S. refugee programs.

Let's pause for a moment, and pray for the return of a day when the following statement of policy is no longer the least bit controversial:

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whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…

For expert commentary on the impact of this order, see @IRAP @RCUSA_DC @RESCUEorg @HIASrefugees @LIRSorg & many more groups that have done the hard work of protecting refugees during the dark recent times.

I just want to point out some elements for the tech community...

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Important call for more efficient collection & sharing of biometric data, along with interviews via teleconferencing—these are tech-driven opportunities to streamline the whole system & put the President's goal of 125,000 annual refugee admissions within reach.

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And @USDS will be on the case!

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The federal gov't is going to need a lot more people to work on refugee adjudications, & @USOPM is called on to make "expanded use of direct hiring authority"—this allows qualified applicants to skip a lot of the usual civil service hiring requirements.

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I hope that @DHSgov & @StateDept do a major recruiting drive for mission-driven individuals to join up for the hard & noble task of rebuilding our refugee system.

Meantime, tech talent should check out the @USDS application page!

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usds.gov/apply