Biden Refugee Cap 2021: Where The Migrants Are Going To Come From
KEY POINTS
He says earlier cap did not reflect America s values as a nation
The Biden administration has tagged around 12,500 spots as “unallocated”
President Joe Biden on Monday raised the cap on refugees allowed into the U.S. this year to 62,500, much above the 15,000 limit set by the Donald Trump administration. However, the number is still below what Biden promised in February. Under the new allocations, the U.S. would be able to accept 22,000 refugees from Africa and thousands more are expected from East Asia, Europe, Central, Near East and South Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Biden quadruples refugee cap to 62,50004/05/2021|2min
President Joe Biden has announced the refugee admissions cap is quadrupling from 15,000 to 62,500 for this fiscal year – saying the Trump administration’s figure “did not reflect America’s values”.
The decision comes after Democrats pressured Mr Biden over his move last month to leave the cap at 15,000, a limit imposed by former president Donald Trump.
“This erases the historically low number set by the previous administration of 15,000, which did not reflect America’s values as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees,” President Biden said.
“The new admissions cap will also reinforce efforts that are already underway to expand the United States’ capacity to admit refugees, so that we can reach the goal of 125,000 refugee admissions that I intend to set for the coming fiscal year.”
Biden reverses course, raises U.S. refugee cap to 62.5K for 2021
By (0)
In a reversal Monday, President Joe Biden announced his administration will raise the refugee admissions cap to 62,500 for the fiscal year 2021 and 125,000 in 2022. Pool photo by Melina Mara/UPI | License Photo
U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive to the White House Ellipse on Marine One after a visit to Virginia. Photo by Erin Scott/UPI | License Photo
Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, previously announced President Joe Biden would walk back plans to keep the 15,000 refugee cap in place. Photo by Stefani Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Updated May 3, 2021 at 5:22 PM ET
President Biden announced on Monday that his administration is raising the cap on refugee admissions to 62,500 for this fiscal year, far above the 15,000 limit set by the Trump administration, but below an earlier campaign promise. It is important to take this action today to remove any lingering doubt in the minds of refugees around the world who have suffered so much, and who are anxiously waiting for their new lives to begin, the president said in a statement.
Biden said the earlier cap did not reflect America s values as a nation and the United States had a commitment to protect the most vulnerable.