Published by
Reuters
Reuters
By Steve Holland and Mica Rosenberg WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday he has resurrected a plan to raise refugee admissions this year to 62,500 after drawing a wave of criticism from supporters for initially keeping the refugee cap at a historically low level. A Democrat, Biden formally reversed himself just two weeks after his administration announced it would keep the cap at the 15,000 level set by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, an immigration hawk. In a statement, Biden said his action “erases the historically low number set by the previous administra…
Congresswoman Jacobs released the following statement:
“We have a moral obligation to provide safety and security to refugees fleeing violence and humanitarian crises. I’m glad that President Biden lifted the unthinkably low cap set by the previous administration and look forward to working together to reach 125,000 refugee admissions next year.”
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Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service of San Diego issued this statement:
Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) applauds the Biden-Harris administration for its presidential determination to begin resettling 62,500 refugees this year. We look forward to helping individuals and families from around the world rebuild their lives in San Diego in safety and with dignity.
JFS was founded 103 years ago on the tradition of “Welcoming the Stranger” and aiding refugees, and we are proud to continue today as one of the primary refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego County. Refugees and immigrants strengthen our social fabric and make San Diego – and our country – more prosperous and resilient in a changing world.
In the 2019-2020 federal fiscal year, JFS assisted 129 refugees and Special Immigrant Visa new arrivals. We are actively preparing for the increase of refugees resettled in our region, while continuing to prioritize public health, and are grateful for numerous dedicated volunteers and ongoing community support.
Additional funding is needed from the government and private philanthropy to make this work possible, including for increased staffing and longer-term services for resettled refugees with permanent homes in San Diego. To donate, visit http://www.jfssd.org/givetoday. To volunteer, visit http://www.jfssd.org/helpnow.
There are roughly 80 million displaced men, women and children around the world who remain in immediate danger – fleeing war, persecution and more. This new presidential determination is an important step in honoring our country’s history as a nation established by refugees and built by generations of immigrants.