After facing criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups, President Biden announces plans to lift the refugee cap set by the Trump administration, reversing his earlier stance.
In response to backlash from lawmakers and humanitarian organizations, President Joe Biden has decided to lift the refugee admission cap set by his predecessor, Donald Trump. Initially, the Biden administration expanded eligibility for resettlements but kept the cap at the historically low level of 15,000 refugees, a decision that sparked outcry among progressives and refugee advocates.
Earlier on Friday, Biden signed an emergency determination justifying the 15,000 cap for 2021, citing humanitarian concerns and national interest. However, after facing significant criticism, the White House announced that Biden will raise the cap to 62,500 refugees, as originally promised during his campaign. This change reflects the administration’s effort to expedite the admissions process, although it represents a reversal of Biden’s earlier decision.
Biden’s action to revise the refugee policy comes amid growing pressure to honor his commitment to increasing refugee admissions and reversing restrictive immigration policies.
