U.S President to raise refugee cap to 125,000 for next year
President Joe Biden’s administration wants to raise US refugee cap to 125,000 in the upcoming fiscal year starting on Oct. 1 in keeping with a campaign promise.
The Department of State announced on Monday that the administration sent a report to Congress recommending that the limit be raised from 62,500 to 125,000 in the next year, which begins on October 1, 2021.
The State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement, “With the world facing unprecedented global displacement and humanitarian needs, the United States is committed to leading efforts to provide protection and promote durable solutions to humanitarian crises, to include providing resettlement for the most vulnerable.”
President Joe Biden faced criticism earlier this year after he delayed a promise to raise the 2021 admissions cap from a historic low of 15,000 set by his predecessor.
However, Biden acknowledged that it would be difficult to resettle the maximum number of people that it allows. He also dampened expectations for the next fiscal year, saying it will still be hard to hit” the 125,000 limit.
“We might not make it the first year, but we are going to use every tool available to help these fully-vetted refugees fleeing horrific conditions in their home countries.”
The president sets the refugee cap, but Congress is in charge of allocating the budget that includes resources for the resettlement programme. On Monday, the State Department said it would consult with lawmakers about the proposed refugee cap.
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