U.S. to Accept 110,000 Refugees in 2017

posted on: Sep 15, 2016

BY: Zane Ziebell/Contributing Writer

The Obama Administration plans to increase the number of refugees the United States will take in during fiscal year 2017 to 110,000.

Secretary of State John Kerry told lawmakers that, “the administration wants to admit 110,000 international refugees in the fiscal year that begins October 1.” The new number of refugees that the U.S. says it will accept is a 30% increase from the goal of 85,000 Obama held during fiscal year 2016. The move comes at a time of increased debate in the U.S. regarding refugees and border policies.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said, “We must remain compassionate toward refugees but we also need to make sure that we use common sense.” He added, “Unfortunately President Obama unilaterally increases the number of refugees resettled in the United States each year and gives little thought as to how it will impact local communities.”

But incoming refugees have often proven to be beneficial for local economies. In areas such as Utica, New York, the influx of refugees has halted economic decline with the establishment of small businesses. Neighborhoods have been revitalized and new opportunities have been created due to hard work and entrepreneurship that characterizes most refugees. While the immediate fiscal impact could be slightly substantial, the long-term benefits of having refugees in America will pay off, seeing as many have a long working life in front of them.

Inside the closed door meeting with House and Senate judiciary committees, Kerry said that the U.S. will accept a “significantly higher” number of refugee admissions from Syria. The previous goal was to admit 10,000 by the end of fiscal year 2016. However, government figures indicate that the U.S. has already exceeded that resettlement objective with 11,503 resettled Syrians.

The new commitment by the Obama Administration to take in increased number of refugees comes as the U.S. and world leaders pledged to step up and tackle the growing refugee crisis.

This is the largest group of globally displaced people since World War II.

Yet, many Republican governors are calling to restrict refugee access to their states for fear of Paris and San Bernardino style attacks. Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump has even called for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration, claiming that terrorists could take advantage of the refugee resettlement program.

As the civil war in Syria enters its fifth year, it continues to be the focal point of the current international refugee crisis. Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2011, over 7.6 million Syrians have been displaced. Among them, 4.1 million have fled the country as refugees.

Last year, the highest number of admitted asylum seekers came from Burma, with over 18,000 resettled in the U.S. Second to Burma was Iraq, with just under 13,000 resettled refugees.

No official cap has been set for the number of Syrians the U.S. will admit in 2017, but of the 110,000 total, 40,000 are designated to be from Near East and South Asia, which includes Syria.

Rising conflicts around the world continue to be the greatest contributor to the refugee crisis. The current epidemic is without a short-term solution and shows no signs of stopping. The rubber boats and bodies that wash up on Mediterranean shores, coupled with the countless refugee camps that dot the Middle East, offer more proof than necessary to show the world that this issue is not one to be ignored.

The U.S. has long been and will continue to be a place of safety and refuge for people fleeing conflict and instability.

“If it is possible to do more, we would,” said Secretary Kerry.