(Reuters/Visa-guru.com) Joe Biden, the US president has signed an order to allow 15,00 asylum seekers this year in the state. The shocking news came when he signed an order on 16th April 2021. The order restricted U.S refugee acceptance to the record low 15,000 cap set under his predecessor Donald Trump.
Biden committed in February that the number of refugees entering the next fiscal year would be increased to 125,000. A senior administration official said that under Biden’s presidential pledge, the United States would offer refugee status to a large part of the world. Under Biden’s new plan, 15,000 cap will be allocated as follows:
- 7,000 for Africa
- 1,000 for East Asia
- 1,500 for Europe and Central Asia
- 3000 for Latin America and the Caribbean
- 1500, from around East and South Asia
- 1000 for an unallocated reserve
Biden neglecting the initial set goal (announced in February 2021) to expand 62,500 refugees in the country. After the new quota has been announced, the criticism increased by media and human rights organizations. The white house then declared a statement that Biden would make a “final, increased refuge cap” for the remainder of this financial year by May 15.
The acceptance of such a small number of refugees is regrettable. All Democrats are looking unhappy with this decision. Biden’s decision to restrict enrollments to 15,000 is a surprise for an advocacy group that desires the Democratic president to move rapidly to reverse the refugee policies of the Republican Trump.
Biden who took the official charge in January had indicated 2 months ago, the goals to expand the cap during the 2021 financial year ending on Sept.30, but he could not do so. The president’s cautious approach appears to have been tied to concerns over the optics of admitting more refugees at a time of rising numbers of immigrants coming to the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks and to not desiring to look “too open” or “soft.
Hours after the complaints spread, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told in a statement that the original announcement was “a matter of confusion” and that a final refugee cap for this year would be set by May 15. Psaki said Biden’s “initial goal of 62,500 seems unlikely” between now and the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, “given the decimated refugee admissions program we inherited.”Republicans think that Biden is responsible for the condition at the border, because of his wrong moves to reverse other Trump-era hardline immigration policies.
The growing number of people (families and unaccompanied) from Central America, many seeking asylums, have been among those detained at the border in recent months. The refugee plan provides a track for the candidate to apply abroad to resettle in the US.