US on track to accept fewest refugees in its history: Report | Al Jazeera

The administration of US President Joe Biden is on track to accept the smallest number of refugees of any administration in American history, a new report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) says.

Despite pledges to raise the cap on the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the United States – and executive orders signed to reverse many of the immigration policies implemented by former US President Donald Trump – Biden has yet to sign a presidential determination.

A presidential determination would activate the steps taken so far by Biden to reintroduce programmes aimed at enhancing resettlement. Without it, Trump’s policies – including a 15,000 cap on refugee admission per year – remain in effect.

“There has now been an unexplained and unjustified eight-week delay in issuing the revised refugee admissions policy,” IRC said.

“As a result, tens of thousands of already-cleared refugees remain barred from resettlement and over 700 resettlement flights have been cancelled, leaving vulnerable refugees in uncertain limbo.”...