Trump mum on refugee admissions despite pleas from Congress
The administration has drastically reduced the number of refugees resettled annually in the United States.
As conflicts across the Middle East bring continued waves of displacement, the Trump administration hasn’t yet told Congress how many refugees will be allowed to settle in the United States next year, despite a legal requirement that it do so.
Before the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1, the White House is required by law to report to the House and Senate Judiciary committees next year’s cap for refugee admissions. Prior to issuing a determination, the administration is supposed to send Cabinet-level officials to consult with members.
That hasn’t happened. Democratic staff told Al-Monitor that the administration has not attempted to schedule the statutorily required consultation or shared its proposed admissions plan with the committees, despite repeated inquiries.
A spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment "on the internal discussions or the timeline related to its development.” Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Department of Health and Human Services returned a request for comment.
