US Slashes Number Of Refugees To 30,000 For Next Year

TOPSHOT - A member of the Pueblos Sin Fronteras, a pro-immigration advocacy group, lights a candle during a vigil to raise awareness of local police harassment and abuse of migrants, deported migrants and homeless in... TOPSHOT - A member of the Pueblos Sin Fronteras, a pro-immigration advocacy group, lights a candle during a vigil to raise awareness of local police harassment and abuse of migrants, deported migrants and homeless in Tijuana, Baja California state, on September 16, 2018. - Mexico said on September 13, 2018 that it had received an offer from the United States of payment to deport migrants, but denied it had accepted the deal. The statement followed reports that President Donald Trump's administration planned to send Mexico $20 million to deport undocumented Central Americans crossing its territory toward the United States. (Photo by Guillermo Arias / AFP) (Photo credit should read GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS

September 17, 2018 5:26 p.m.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is cutting the number of refugees allowed into the United States next year to 30,000.The announcement comes despite calls from global humanitarian groups that this year’s cap of 45,000 was too low.The 30,000 ceiling announced Monday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the maximum the U.S. will admit during the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. The actual number allowed could be lower. The U.S. welcomed nearly 85,000 refugees in the final year of the Obama administration.

The lower admittance numbers reflect the Trump administration’s opposition to accepting refugees and other immigrants into the U.S. That approach has already driven down refugee admissions to their lowest level in a decade.

This post has been updated.

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SUSANNAH GEORGE

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