But if the cap is reached before the end of the current budget year and the emergency refugee situation persists, then a presidential determination may be issued to raise the ceiling. But if the cap is reached before the end of the current budget year and the emergency refugee situation persists, then a presidential determination may be issued to raise the ceiling. ... 2021. "It's kind of inexplicable why we could be resettling refugees now as we have done for decades.". "We must keep our promises to people who have fled unthinkably brutal conditions in their home countries and live up to our ambition to provide them a safe haven to re-start their lives,” more than 40 House Democrats wrote in a letter to Biden, issued shortly before the White House's decision. Supreme Court to debate immigration case as Biden wrestles with crisis at southern border, This unaccompanied minor nearly drowned coming to the US. Mr. Biden's proposal would distribute 22,000 refugee spots for Africa, 13,000 for the Near East and South Asia, 6,000 for East Asia, 5,000 for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 4,000 for Europe and Central Asia, one of the sources familiar with the plan told CBS News. The move, an abrupt reversal of his promise to lift the cap to 62,500, prompted immediate blowback among Democratic allies and advocacy groups. ", "As a refugee, I know finding a home is a matter of life or death for children around the world," tweeted Omar, herself a refugee whose family fled Somalia's civil war in the 1990s. February 5, 2021 / 9:05 PM / CBS News The Biden administration told Congress on Friday that it is proposing to increase the refugee cap for the current fiscal year from 15,000 spots — a … ... 2021. Prince Philip laid to rest at St. George's Chapel, Why Crosley Green's freedom still hangs in the balance, Congressional caucus would champion "Anglo-Saxon" traditions, Four Sikhs among victims of Indianapolis mass shooting, COVID-19 death toll tops 3 million worldwide, Macron urges countries to draw "clear red lines" with Russia, Moderna plans to have third vaccine booster shot ready by fall, Louisiana residents gear up for highly active hurricane season, A single text message was key to bringing home a lost hiker, CDC panel adjourns without vote on extending J&J COVID vaccine pause, Michigan officials request help as COVID-19 cases surge. Now he has a new life in Florida. ... 2021, 6:27 PM. Sen. Bob Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted that Trump’s 15,000 limit is the lowest refugee admissions cap since the inception of the refugee resettlement program 40 years ago. / CBS News. She said Psaki's statement also doesn't address why the administration linked the decision to the border. President Biden found out on Friday that any cap on refugees is apparently "xenophobic and racist" to Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Ilhan Omar. © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Incensed at Trump’s short-lived policy of separating migrant families, they want MAGA-style restrictionism wiped completely away at DHS and replaced by a much more welcoming system. As of March 31, the U.S. has so far admitted 2,050 refugees under the Trump administration's 15,000 cap, according to the most recent data from the Refugee Processing Center. Before Friday's reversal, Democrats in Congress were pressing Biden to formalize the 62,500 refugee cap. Oral COVID-19 vaccine being tested in LA-area research center, What's behind the push for a 4th stimulus check, Biden retains historic-low refugee cap for now, angering allies. President Joe Biden said he plans to announce a higher refugee cap for this year, following a swift backlash from allies over a decision to keep the historically low ceiling set by his predecessor. "Given the decimated refugee admissions program we inherited, and burdens on the Office of Refugee Resettlement, his initial goal of 62,500 seems unlikely," she said in a statement. Refugee resettlement agencies were disheartened Biden did not touch Trump’s cap, the lowest since the program began 41 years ago. Because we lost two months of refugee admissions," she said. WASHINGTON – The White House said Friday President Joe Biden plans to increase the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the United States next month, hours after facing public outcry over a surprise decision to keep a Trump-era cap in place. Biden keeps Trump's record-low cap on refugees April 16, 2021 | 3:21 PM Robinhood State officials seek to revoke license of popular investing app Robinhood April 16, 2021 | 1:48 PM ", First published on February 5, 2021 / 9:05 PM. Billy Binion | 4.16.2021 2:39 PM Democrats and human rights groups blasted the earlier announcement that the caps would stay the same for now. Rep. Ilham Omar, D-Minn., called Biden's decision to keep the Trump-era cap "shameful. President Biden said on Thursday that he had directed the State Department to make a "down payment" on his commitment to resettle up to 125,000 refugees during fiscal year 2022, which starts in October. "We've resettled refugees in times where there's been a lot of asylum seekers at the border and when there's been fewer asylum seekers," she said. His explanation makes little sense. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Claire Hansen April 16, 2021 The Trump administration repeatedly slashed the number of refugees allowed to come to the U.S., and Trump himself often attacked immigrants in particularly harsh rhetoric. The administration will also work with Congress to increase the number of admissions to further address "the unforeseen emergency situation," the official said. Share This: share on facebook; Rights groups and US lawmakers had criticised US president over earlier plan to keep Trump-era limit in place for 2021. Founded in 1980 with broad bipartisan support, the U.S. refugee program offers humanitarian refuge to people abroad who have been persecuted, or have a well-founded fear of being persecuted, because of their race, nationality, religion, political opinion or membership in a social group. Mr. Trump's policies and cuts to the program prompted the groups that help the government resettle refugees to lay off staff, close offices across the country and lose federal funding. ... 2021. ET. Biden's decision comes as the world faces an unprecedented refugee crisis. This is … As of March 31, the U.S. has so far admitted 2,050 refugees under the Trump administration's 15,000 cap, according to the most recent data from the Refugee Processing Center. The State Department declared that “a revised target of 62,500 [refugees] is proposed and is justified by grave humanitarian concerns and is in the national interest.” Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. “It sends an … "With that done we expect the President to set a final, increased refugee cap for the remainder of this fiscal year by May 15," she said. Adam Edelman. Quadrupling the current cap with eight months left in the fiscal year and a decimated resettlement infrastructure would be an ambitious effort. Immigration and refugee advocates had hoped for an ally in Biden, who pledged during his campaign to raise the cap, and proposed in early February to accept up to 62,500 refugees this year. Share ... Biden says administration will raise refugee cap in first comments after Friday’s back and forth. So do you need a vaccine card? New York is spending $2B on undocumented workers. "We cannot turn our backs on refugees around the world, including hundreds of refugees who have already been cleared for resettlement, have sold their belongings, and are ready to board flights," she said in a statement. President Biden pays respects to slain Capitol police officer. He said the Biden administration’s delay in issuing its revised refugee cap “has not only stymied the number of refugees permitted entrance into the United States, but also it has prevented the Department of State from admitting vetted refugees currently waiting in the system who do not fit into the unprecedentedly narrow refugee categories designated by the Trump administration.”, Menendez said the delays mean the U.S. could actually admit even fewer than 15,000 refugees, which he called “an appallingly low admissions level set by the previous administration.”. Under Trump border rule that Biden has kept, few can seek asylum, Biden sets immigration priorities in first funding plan to Congress, Biden officials defend response to record arrivals of migrant children, California Privacy/Information We Collect. Updated 8:15 AM ET, Thu April 15, 2021 (CNN) President Joe Biden has resisted signing off on raising the Trump-era refugee cap because of political optics, sources have told … He then backtracked and will now raise it. A key Biden ally in Congress blasted the Biden administration’s decision. President Joe Biden gave an emotional tribute and paid his respects to slain U.S. Capitol Police Officer William “Billy” Evans. Share. You've been vaccinated. Photo by John Moore/Getty Images. Biden notified Congress in February that he would increase the number of refugees allowed to enter the country from 15,000 to 62,500 in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, upping it to 125,000 for the following year. April 16, 2021. Biden finally calls migrant surge at border a ‘crisis’ as he explains his cave on refugee cap By Mary Kay Linge. Jack Jenkins, Emily McFarlan Miller. Biden won’t follow through on a promise made early in his presidency to increase the annual refugee cap, or number of people fleeing persecution overseas, admitted into the U.S. to 60,000, an anonymous senior administration official told The New York Times.Instead, Biden will keep the current refugee cap of 15,000 set by former President Donald Trump. By . TPS in court: Supreme Court to debate immigration case as Biden wrestles with crisis at southern border, Becoming American: This unaccompanied minor nearly drowned coming to the US. Psaki said Biden was urged to immediately reverse his predecessor's ban on refugees from certain regions. Melanie Nezer, a spokeswoman for refugee resettlement organization HIAS, said the new clarification doesn't explain waiting two months to lift restrictive regional allocations, which resulted in flight cancellations and stranding refugees waiting to be resettled. [Episcopal Migration Ministries] Today (April 16) the Biden administration announced it would not increase the refugee cap for Fiscal Year 2021 from a historic low of 15,000 refugees to 62,500. Migrants have been entering the country from Mexico in increased numbers in 2021, ... Trump's refugee cap was a policy based in white nationalism and hate and should have been one of … He also revoked Trump-era directives that called for the "extreme vetting" of refugees and that allowed states and local jurisdictions to reject refugee resettlement in their communities. Although the refugee resettlement program is separate from border issues, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that "it is a factor.". April 17, 2021 at 2:05 a.m. UTC. (e) Refugee resettlement pursuant to this determination shall be consistent with the requirements of Executive Order 14013 of February 4, 2021 (Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to … Now he has a new life in Florida, drastically cut by the Trump administration, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 'Shameful,' 'unacceptable and unconscionable': Biden faces blowback from Democrats over refugee cap. On Thursday, Mr. Biden issued an executive order mandating an expansion of refugee resettlement, as well as a broad review of the program. Here's why. "It is shameful that @POTUS is reneging on a key promise to welcome refugees. “It took us some time to see and evaluate how ineffective, or how trashed in some ways the refugee processing system had become, and so we had to rebuild some of those muscles and put it back in place," she said. "These are individual human beings, they're not numbers.". Hours later, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president had been consulting with his advisers to determine the number of refugees that could "realistically be admitted to the United States" between now and Oct. 1, the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Biden's administration still needs to formally consult Congress before officially raising the refugee ceiling, which is a target and does not require the government to receive an exact number of people. ... Security and the Department of Health and Human Services, outlined how the Biden administration wanted to raise the refugee cap to 62,500 people. Mr. Trump and his advisers frequently depicted refugees as national security threats and as a drain on the U.S. economy. The executive order said the Biden administration would focus on expanding resettlement options for women, girls and other refugees fleeing persecution stemming from their gender or sexual orientation. Biden vows to raise refugee admission cap, but offers few details. ... (@AOC) April 16, 2021. In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had announced the U.S. would allow 62,500 refugees to resettle, saying the move was "justified by grave humanitarian concerns.". CNN first reported the Biden administration's proposal. But Mr. Biden was concerned that lifting the Trump-era cap on refugees would overwhelm the already-strapped system, ... April 16, 2021, 7:40 p.m. Tom Brenner | … The administration said earlier Biden would sign an emergency determination that would maintain the fiscal year's target of 15,000 refugee admissions – a historically low number set by former President Donald Trump. The Biden administration told Congress on Friday that it is proposing to increase the refugee cap for the current fiscal year from 15,000 spots — a historic low set by President Trump — to 62,500 spots, two people familiar with the plan told CBS News. Biden came under heavy fire after not raising the refugee cap as he promised Democrats previously. The administration intends to use all 15,000 slots for fiscal year 2021, but instead will change the allocation to include regions that had been excluded under former President Donald Trump's administration, including Africa, Latin America and South Asia, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The Biden administration will keep in place the historically low refugee cap set by former President Donald Trump, a senior administration official said Friday. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. During an October 2020 campaign stop in Minnesota, Trump directly attacked Biden on the issue. Meredith Owen, the director of policy and advocacy at the resettlement agency Church World Service, praised the proposed refugee ceiling, calling it "an important step toward returning the resettlement program to historic norms. The new allocation allows about 7,000 people fleeing persecution from Africa; 1,000 from East Asia; 1,500 from Europe and Central Asia; 3,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean; and 1,600 from the Near East and South Asia. The U.S. has so far admitted 1,500 refugees during the current fiscal year, according to State Department data distributed to resettlement agencies. Raising the cap on refugees was a core Biden campaign promise to progressives, part of a comprehensive effort to undo Trump’s immigration policies. Experts have said the resettlement infrastructure will need to be rebuilt before the U.S. can receive close to 125,000 refugees in fiscal year 2022. 4.53pm EDT 16:53 White House to raise Trump-era refugee cap next month amid backlash; 2.31pm EDT 14:31 Democrats angry after Biden keeps Trump's cap on refugee … ", Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called the decision "unacceptable and unconscionable," and said Biden "has broken his promise to restore our humanity.". The United Nations estimated last month that more than 1.4 million people fleeing violence, persecution and armed conflict around the world are in urgent need of resettlement. The order instead lifted refugee admission restrictions on regions previously blocked by the Trump administration, including Africa and the Middle East, and said the president would consult with Congress "should we need to increase the number of admissions to further address the unforeseen emergency situation.". There were more than 25 million refugees across the globe as of mid-2020, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Biden Called Trump's Refugee Cap 'Cruel and Shortsighted.' Refugees and asylum seekers must show they have been persecuted in their home country or have a well-founded fear of persecution there on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The administration has been struggling to manage an influx of migrants, particularly youths, showing up at the U.S. southern border. Immigration. By ZEKE MILLER, AAMER MADHANI and JULIE WATSON | April 16, 2021 at 11:24 AM CDT - Updated April 16 at 4:10 PM He's Keeping It in Place—for Now. President Joe Biden earlier Friday moved to accelerate refugee admissions but kept his predecessor’s historically low cap of 15,000 refugees for this year, triggering a … Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Published April 17, 2021 3:07 pm . Published Sat, Apr 17 2021 11:57 AM EDT. The White House said Friday that President Joe Biden is expected to increase the refugee cap for the remainder of this fiscal year by May 15. The remaining 12,500 spots would not be allocated for specific regions. "We can't wait to finally welcome them home. "To now wait two months, lose those two months, and then have the result be we're not increasing admissions, it's almost worse than had he just come out of the gate and said it. On February 12, his administration formally reported to Congress that it would raise the refugee cap to 62,500 for the rest of fiscal year 2021. Tweet. Mr. Biden also ordered officials to study the impact of climate change on migration and explore ways to resettle those displaced by it. President Joe Biden signs order to speed refugee admissions, but doesn’t lift former President Donald Trump’s historically low refugee cap for year. February 5, 2021 / 9:05 PM In a statement to CBS News over the weekend, the State Department confirmed it notified Congress of the proposed emergency change to the refugee cap, saying it was arranging the consultation period with lawmakers. But he never signed the presidential determination that would actually raise the cap, effectively keeping the cap at Trump-era levels. Psaki added the delay was in part due to the overhaul needed to rebuild the refugee program that had been drastically cut by the Trump administration. "The Secretary has made it very clear that he shares the President's ambitious vision for restoring the U.S. He said Biden would turn Minnesota "into a refugee camp ... overwhelming public resources, overcrowding schools, and inundating your hospitals.". Friday's move is part of Mr. Biden's early efforts to rebuild a U.S. refugee program gutted by the Trump administration, which dramatically cut refugee admissions after President Obama allocated 110,000 spots before leaving office. Biden moved to revise controversial regional refugee limits set by the Trump administration but will keep refugee admissions in fiscal 2021 to a historically low 15,000. Refugees make their claims from abroad, while asylum seekers make their claims once they've reached the U.S. Share. The Office of Refugee Resettlement "does do management and has personnel working on both issues, and so we have to ensure that there is capacity and ability to manage both," she said. ", "Hope has been restored to refugee families who have been waiting for years for safety — including refugees who were approved to travel and rejoin family in the U.S. before the program was slashed to all time lows," Owen said. Refugee Admissions Program and U.S. leadership in humanitarian affairs globally at a time when the world's most vulnerable people need us the most, including this step to address emergency refugee situations," a State Department spokesperson said. The administration will reserve an additional 1,000 to use as needed, according to the official. Biden came under heavy fire after not raising the refugee cap decades. `` This unaccompanied minor drowned... Additional 1,000 to use as needed, according to State Department data distributed to resettlement.... 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