Obama wants to accept 10,000 refugees this year

The US president hopes to accept 10,000 refugees this year, despite security concerns.

Children play around a refugee camp in Idlib province, Syria, April 2016. Photo: Reuters

Last year, when Europe faced a wave of refugees due to the Syrian civil war, Mr. Obama announced that he would accept 10,000 people. However, so far, only 1,285 Syrians have come to the United States, Reuters reported today, citing the US State Department.

"We will continue to push," Mr. Obama said yesterday when asked if the goal could be achieved.

Republicans criticized Mr Obama's decision, saying terrorists could be among the refugees. More than 30 state governors have tried to block the flow of people from Syria.

Mr. Obama has promised that refugees will be vetted before they enter the United States. Congress may be involved in setting the criteria for approval. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is under heavy pressure to ensure that none of those admitted have terrorist links. After the Paris attacks of November 13, which killed 130 people, vetting requirements were tightened.

Washington provides far fewer refugee camps than its close allies in Europe and the Middle East, where many people are fleeing war in Syria and Iraq./.

According to VNE