Biden To Raise Refugee Admissions Cap To 125K

According to the State Department, the Biden administration will increase the cap on refugee admissions to 125,000 in the next fiscal year that begins in October. This was confirmed by the State Department in a statement Monday.

Why it matters: This move comes as the U.S. struggles to rehabilitate tens of thousands of Afghan refugees stateside and as the world faces “unprecedented worldwide displacement and humanitarian needs,” said the department.

• This new commitment is in keeping with Biden’s 2020 campaign promises.

• After harsh criticism of the initial decision to keep admissions low, Biden increased the cap by 62,500 earlier this year.

The big picture: A State Department Report released Monday breaks down the new figures. These new caps are expected:

• 40,000 refugees from Africa
• 35,000 from the Near East and South Asia
• 15,000 from East Asia
• 15,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean
• 10,000 from Europe and Central Asia
• 10,000 slots for an unallocated reserve to be used if needed in any region.

What they’re saying: “A robust refugee admissions program is critical to U.S. foreign policy interests and national security objectives, and is a reflection of core American values,” the statement stated.

• Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) lauded the announcement, tweeting, “I applaud the Biden Administration for setting a target of 125,000 refugee admissions in the next fiscal year—a target my colleagues and I have been advocating for since April.”