Trump intends to reduce the number of refugees to a new record
The administration of US President Donald Trump has said that it intends to accept only 15,000 refugees in the United States in the fiscal year 2021, setting a new record low in the history of the modern asylum program.
The State Department said that the proposal reflected the administration's prioritization "for the safety and well-being of Americans, especially in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic."
Last year, the administration reduced the refugee ceiling to 18,000 but only allowed about half of this number to enter, with the number of arrivals slowing in light of the increase in examination procedures and the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
The president usually sets the permissible levels of refugees annually near the start of each fiscal year. The president is required by law to consult with Congress before determining the annual number of refugees the administration intends to allow, but the final decision is determined by the White House.
The proposal includes specific quotas for refugees who suffer or fear persecution because of religion, refugees from Iraq who have helped the United States, as well as refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Cuba, and Venezuela.
Joe Biden, Trump's Democratic rival in the November 3 presidential election, has pledged to increase the number of refugees to 125,000 a year if he wins.
Related Posts