Biden announces that the number of refugees accepted by the U.S. in fiscal 2021 will be increased to 62,500

　　China News Agency, Washington, May 3 (Reporter Chen Mengtong) U.S. President Biden announced on the 3rd that the United States will increase the refugee admission ceiling for fiscal year 2021 from 15,000 to 62,500.

　　Biden issued a statement on the same day that the upper limit of 15,000 refugees set by the previous administration "does not reflect American values."

He said, "We are working quickly to eliminate the damage caused in the past four years. It will take some time, but this work has already begun."

Data map: US President Biden.

　　Biden also pointed out that although the maximum number of refugee admissions has been raised, "the sad fact is that we will not receive 62,500 people this year."

　　According to data from the Associated Press, since 2000, the maximum number of refugee admissions in the United States has been stable between 70,000 and 80,000.

After this number was raised to 110,000 in 2017, it has been drastically reduced year by year.

　　Since taking office, Biden has revoked and adjusted a number of immigration policies of the Trump administration.

At the same time, the pressure on illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border continues to increase.

　　According to data from the US Customs and Border Protection Agency, the total number of illegal immigrants intercepted by the United States at the US-Mexico border in March reached 172,000, a record high.

Among them, nearly 19,000 are unaccompanied minor illegal immigrants. This number is the highest in a single month since the data was released in 2009.

　　According to the memorandum signed by Biden that day, of the 62,500 refugee reception quotas, the African region has the largest quota of 22,000, while the Latin American and Caribbean region's quota is only 5,000.

　　U.S. Secretary of State Blincoln issued a statement on the 3rd, stating that a sound refugee admission plan is not only vital to U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, but also reflects U.S. core values.

"As part of addressing the wider immigration crisis around the world, we must resume refugee reception programs."

　　Biden also stated in the statement that while raising the refugee ceiling, the United States will expand its capacity to accept refugees. His government plans to set a target of 125,000 refugees in the next fiscal year.

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