US Bishops Disappointment by Current Biden Administration Refugee Cap

US Catholic bishops have expressed their disappointment after the Biden administration reneged on an earlier pledge to increase the refugee admission cap.

“The number of refugees who will be welcomed this year is far short of what we can do as a country and is not an adequate response to the immense resettlement need,” Bishop Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C. and chair of the migration committee at the U.S. bishops’ conference, said on Monday.

“The dire circumstances confronting refugees and asylees has been of particular concern for the Catholic Church,” he added.

The new administration had promised to welcome more refugees to the United States but an order signed by the President on Friday keeps the refugee cap at 15,000.

Figures by the International Rescue Committee indicate only 2,050 refugees have been accepted in the US this fiscal year.

Former president Donald Trump set the refugee cap at 15000.

The White house issued a statement later on Friday saying the refugee limit would be raised in May.

“Given the decimated refugee admissions program we inherited, and burdens on the Office of Refugee Resettlement, his [Biden’s] initial goal of 62,500 seems unlikely,” the White House said.

Bishop Dorsonville said the USCCB wished the refugee cap would be raised to 125,000.

“Given the unprecedented number of refugee families seeking new homes after being persecuted for religious, political, and other reasons, we appreciate that the U.S. refugee admissions program will now offer previously left out refugees an opportunity to resettle in our country,” Bishop Dorsonville said.

“The work of the U.S. Catholic bishops in assisting and advocating on behalf of immigrants and refugees is rooted in the recognition that every person is created in God’s image and must be valued, protected, and respected for the inherent dignity that he or she possesses.”

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