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US President Joe Biden has signed the presidential determination on "Refugee Admissions" for fiscal year 2025, again setting the refugee admissions target at 125,000 for the upcoming fiscal year—as they have for each year of this Administration.
"Building on the US Administration’s efforts to strengthen refugee resettlement and the generous support from Americans across the country, the refugee admissions target of 125,000 ensures the United States will continue to be a global leader in providing safety and opportunity for those facing persecution around the world, said US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken in a press statement on September 30.
Over a 15-year period, refugees contributed almost $124 billion to the U.S. economy, he said.
And resettlement offers the unique opportunity of a better life to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, at a time of historic global levels of displacement, Secretary Blinken said.
Since 2010, the United States has resettled more than 17,000 Rohingyas from the region, including 2,800 this fiscal year so far, says a spokesperson at the US Embassy in Dhaka.
“The United States will continue to consider for resettlement all UNHCR referrals of Rohingya refugees in the region to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program,” he told UNB while responding to a question recently.
The Biden administration remains focused on expanding the resettlement of key populations of concern, including Rohingya, he said.
Seven years ago, on 25 August 2017, some 700,000 Rohingya men, women, and children were forced to flee Myanmar and seek protection in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Refugee resettlement exemplifies the generosity that has always been at the core of the American spirit and reflects the critical role of the United States as a global leader in providing refuge to people fleeing persecution overseas, Blinken said.
In Fiscal Year 2024, the US resettled 100,000 refugees, the largest annual number in three decades.
"This is a testament to our successful work to rebuild the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program with help from partners around the world and thousands of Americans across the country who have stepped up to sponsor refugees through the Welcome Corps," Bl8nken said in his press statement.
Refugee resettlement is orderly, subject to rigorous vetting, and benefits and enriches American communities.
"In cities and towns throughout America, refugees contribute to urban revitalization, add to the vibrancy of local communities, and drive America’s competitiveness and innovation on the global stage," Blinken8 said.
Messenger/Disha
