The resettlement program is expected to reach 18,000 refugees in 2020, up from 30,000 this year. The announcement of this new quota has been criticized by humanitarian organizations.
Affirming to give "The priority to the well-being of American citizens"On Thursday, 26 September, Donald Trump's administration presented a drastic reduction in the quota of refugees accommodated in the United States as part of their resettlement policy.
During the budget year 2020, which begins on 1st By October, the program is expected to reach 18,000 refugees, up from 30,000 this year, and nearly 85,000 by 2016, the US State Department said in a statement. This is a new historical low: since this resettlement program was created in 1980, the annual average has exceeded 95,000 relocations.
This quota must now be discussed with Congress before being, except huge surprise, confirmed by Donald Trump, whose fight against immigration remains one of the main battleground one year of the presidential election.
"The current burden on the US immigration system must be eased before the United States can resettle large numbers of refugees again"said the State Department.
Questions of "national security"
This policy concerns refugees selected by US security and intelligence agencies in United Nations (UN) camps around the world for resettlement in the United States, mostly among the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, widows and handicapped.
"Our refugee quota must also take into account our national security and foreign policy interests"added American diplomacy. "In recent years, law enforcement officers have apprehended terrorists believed to have been through our refugee program", she said. "In addition, in order to serve the interests of US foreign policy, the proposed resettlement of refugees" for the budget year 2020 "Provides for specific quotas for people persecuted for their religious faith, for Iraqis at risk because of their assistance in the United States, and for legitimate refugees from the countries of the North Triangle"which includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
Resettlement programs differ from traditional asylum claims at US borders, and Washington calls for a comprehensive analysis of its policies. "The United States has always been and will always remain the most generous nation in the world when it comes to welcoming those in need of humanitarian protection"Advocate Acting Internal Security Minister Kevin McAleenan said in a statement.
"A very sad day for America"
The government plans to receive a total of 368,000 new refugees and asylum applications by 2020, including 18,000 "Resettled". But only a small part of these people are ultimately granted refugee status.
"It's a very sad day for America"responded the chairman of the non-governmental organization International Rescue Committee, David Miliband. "This is another blow to US leadership in protecting the world's most vulnerable people", he added, referring to a decision "Unfounded and unnecessary that harms America's interests and tarnishes its values".
Refugees International also denounced a "Sad report for US leadership". "I am currently in Colombia, where some 5,000 Venezuelans seek refuge every day"said the president of this humanitarian organization, Eric Schwartz, in a statement. "What President Trump says it's hard to do for the United States, which is to welcome 18,000 people in one year, Colombia does it every four days. "
