Washington: President Barack Obama has ordered his team to admit at least 10,000 Syrian refugees next year, the White House said Thursday, amid criticism that the United States has not done enough.
Spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama had asked staff to "scale up" the number of refugee admissions from around 1,500 in this fiscal year, to 10,000 in the next, beginning October 1.
"He has informed his team that he would like them to... accept at least 10,000 refugees in the next fiscal year," said Earnest.
With global public opinion shocked by images of drowning refugees, the United States is under political pressure to act quickly.
The United States currently accepts around 70,000 refugees from conflicts and persecution each year, but has been slow to accept Syrians.
Refugees from Syria and its region must undergo strict security checks to weed out extremists, even after being registered by the United Nations.
An estimated four million Syrians have fled during four years of war.
Spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama had asked staff to "scale up" the number of refugee admissions from around 1,500 in this fiscal year, to 10,000 in the next, beginning October 1.
"He has informed his team that he would like them to... accept at least 10,000 refugees in the next fiscal year," said Earnest.
The United States currently accepts around 70,000 refugees from conflicts and persecution each year, but has been slow to accept Syrians.
Advertisement
An estimated four million Syrians have fled during four years of war.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Taliban Rejects UN Criticism Of Morality Law As Insult To Islamic Values United Nations Vehicle In Gaza Hit By Israeli Gunfire Vladimir Putin Manipulated Donald Trump's Ego And Insecurities, Claims New Book INDIA's "Hit With Footwear" Protest In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report "It's Mom, I Love You": Mother Of Israeli-American Found Dead In Gaza "Time This War Ended": Biden After Bodies Of 6 Hostages Found In Gaza Rain Fury Kills 10 In Andhra Pradesh, Several Districts Flooded Far-Right Could Win In Germany State Polls For The First Time Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.