U.S. Set To Admit Lowest Number Of Refugees Ever

So far, the U.S. has admitted fewer than 8,000 refugees in the 2021 fiscal year.

Despite President Joe Biden’s pledge to overhaul immigration and welcome refugees to the U.S., 2021 is on pace for a record low in refugee admissions.

According to the latest State Department numbers, the U.S. has accepted just 7,637 refugees this year as of Aug. 31 ― putting it on pace for a historic low, as the fiscal year ends Oct. 1. The refugee cap, a number set by the president outlining the intended number of refugees allowed to enter in a given year, was set as up to 62,500 after pushback by advocates, but the U.S. is unlikely to meet that number by Sept. 30.

The number of admitted refugees could rise before the end of the fiscal year following the evacuation of vulnerable Afghans and the arrival of thousands of Haitians seeking refuge at the southern Texas border. But refugee advocates and lawmakers alike are becoming increasingly frustrated with the administration’s slow-moving response to helping refugees and asylum-seekers.