The White House has said that President Joe Biden would lift the refugee cap by May 15 after progressive Democrats blasted him for keeping it at 15,000.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement that the president’s executive order “has been the subject of some confusion” after liberals like Democratic Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar and allies like Senator Dick Durbin blasted Biden.
Psaki said that the president realized that the country could not accept 62,500 refugees as she blamed former president Donald Trump’s administration for “the decimated refugee admissions program we inherited.”
She said in a statement: “For the past few weeks, he has been consulting with his advisors to determine what number of refugees could realistically be admitted to the United States between now and October 1. Given the decimated refugee admissions program we inherited, and burdens on the Office of Refugee Resettlement, his initial goal of 62,500 seems unlikely.”
Psaki said that the cap would be increased and that the number would be announced by May 15.
“We expect the President to set a final, increased refugee cap for the remainder of this fiscal year by May 15,” she said.
This comes after Biden signed an executive order keeping the refugee cap at 15,000 after he vowed to increase it.
Omar took to Twitter and wrote: “As a refugee, I know finding a home is a matter of life or death for children around the world. It is shameful that @POTUS is reneging on a key promise to welcome refugees.
“There are simply no excuses for today’s disgraceful decision. It goes directly against our values and risks the lives of little boys and girls huddled in refugee camps around the world. I know, because I was one.”
Ocasio-Cortez also slammed the president and tweeted: “Completely and utterly unacceptable. Biden promised to welcome immigrants, and people voted for him based on that promise. Upholding the xenophobic and racist policies of the Trump admin, incl the historically low + plummeted refugee cap, is flat out wrong. Keep your promise.”
Durbin, a close White House ally, also took to Twitter and said: “Say it ain’t so, President Joe. This is unacceptable.
“Refugees wait years for their chance and go through extensive vetting—35,000 are ready today. I urge the Biden Administration to reconsider this decision and stick to their promise of increasing refugee admissions.”
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!
Replaced!