Biden Aims to Accept 125,000 Refugees Next Year, According to Memo from Reuters

President Joe Biden will maintain the administration’s goal of accepting 125,000 refugees next year, as indicated in a memo sent to the U.S. State Department on Monday.

The Biden administration is on track to admit 100,000 individuals through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in the fiscal year 2024, which concludes on September 30, according to an internal report provided to U.S. lawmakers. If this target is met, it would mark the highest refugee admissions level in thirty years.

In the memo, Biden stated, “The admission of up to 125,000 refugees to the United States during Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.”

Immigration remains a significant concern for voters as the November 5 elections approach, where Kamala Harris, Biden’s vice president and a Democrat, will face off against former President Donald Trump, a Republican. During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, Trump significantly reduced refugee admissions and has promised to enforce a comprehensive immigration crackdown if he is re-elected.

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is designed for individuals outside their home countries who face persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. To qualify for this status, applicants must be outside the United States.

Biden initially set the goal of admitting 125,000 refugees for fiscal year 2022, an ambitious target that has proven challenging to reach, even with efforts to enhance the refugee processing system over the years.