‘Shameful,’ ‘unacceptable and unconscionable’: Biden faces blowback from Democrats over refugee cap
The White House said in a new statement Friday afternoon that Biden’s “directive today has been the subject of some confusion.”
Democrats on Friday slammed President Joe Biden for keeping in place this year the cap on refugees allowed to enter the United States set by the Trump administration.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said it was ”unacceptable and unconscionable that the Biden administration is not immediately repealing Donald Trump’s harmful, xenophobic, and racist refugee cap that cruelly restricts refugee admissions to a historically low level.”
“After four painful years of fighting Trump’s all-out draconian assault on immigrants, President Biden promised to restore America as a beacon of hope and committed to increasing our refugee resettlement numbers. By failing to sign an Emergency Presidential Determination to lift Trump’s historically low refugee cap, President Biden has broken his promise to restore our humanity,” Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said. “We cannot turn our back on refugees around the world, including hundreds of refugees who have already been cleared for resettlement, have sold their belongings, and are ready to board flights. . .
UPDATE: After outcry, WH says Biden will lift refugee cap in May. AP, April 16, 2021
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing swift blowback from allies and aid groups, the White House on Friday said President Joe Biden plans to lift his predecessor’s historically low cap on refugees by next month, after initially moving only to expand the eligibility criteria for resettlements. . .