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An Early Promise Broken: Inside Biden Reversal in Refugee

The President usually enrolls refugees at the end of the financial year. But Mr. Biden will allow 62,500 refugees to enter the United States before October 1. By declaring emergency “serious humanitarian concerns” around the world.

The President made no mention of the refugees in his first day in office in a spate of executive orders related to immigration. But on February 4, only two weeks later, he announced his plans with a flourish during a speech at the State Department.

“It is going to take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged,” said Mr. Biden. He did not mention the number of 62,500, but reiterated his promise of 125,000 starting in October, saying, “I am instructing the State Department to consult with Congress about making payments on that commitment as soon as possible Am. “

On February 12, the President made a specific commitment to Congress, promising to resettle 62,500 refugees fleeing war and persecution at home. Mr. Blinken took the caretaker health secretary of the time, Alejandro Ann. Mayurakas, along with Secretary of Homeland Security and Norris Cochran, conveyed the message to MPs.

“They went there and presented a really well-thought-out plan, and we were thrilled,” Mark Jettrey, Mark J., chief executive of the Hebrew Immigrant Assistance Society, an immigrant agency. Hetfield said.

“And then,” said Mr. Hetfield, “it just evaporated overnight.”

The impact of the President’s delay in Washington was felt all over the world.

Resettlement agencies had already booked flights for hundreds of refugees.

Such immigrants must be identified as refugees from the United Nations or other organizations and can clear up several rounds of waiting, which, according to the National Immigration Forum, a lawyer organization, can take an average of two years. Roughly 33,000 refugees have received such approval, and about 115,000 are in the pipeline to resettle.