USCIS announced this week that it nearly reached the authorized ceiling
for refugee admission in Fiscal Year 2013. This year, 69,930 refugees
came to the United States, just 70 refugees lower than the authorized
ceiling of 70,000. This number is higher than any number in any previous
year since 1980.
According to the Department of State, “reaching this threshold is a
demonstration of the Administration’s efforts to create a refugee
admissions program which meets the important security screening
standards required by the American people and the growing humanitarian
need.
President Obama has again authorized the admission of up to 70,000
refugees for Fiscal Year 2014. It is expected that many refugees will
come from Iraq, Burma and Bhutan. It is also expected that refugees will
begin coming from Congo and Syria as well.
