Presidents normally increase the number of refugees at the end of the fiscal year. But Mr. Biden would allow up to 62,500 refugees to enter the United States by Oct. 1 by declaring “grave humanitarian concerns” around the world an emergency.
The president made no mention of refugees in a fit of executive immigration orders on his first day of work. But on February 4, just two weeks later, he announced his plans to great effect in a speech at the State Department.
“It will take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged, but that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” said Mr Biden. He did not name the number 62,500, but reiterated his pledge of 125,000 as of October, adding, “I order the State Department to consult Congress on making a down payment for that pledge as soon as possible.”
On February 12, the president delivered on his specific pledge to Congress, pledging to resettle 62,500 refugees fleeing war and persecution at home. Mr. Blinken delivered the message to lawmakers along with Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and Norris Cochran, the then acting health secretary.
“They went there and presented a very thoughtful plan, and we were so excited,” said Mark J. Hetfield, the director of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a resettlement agency.
“And then,” said Mr. Hetfield, “it just evaporated overnight.”
The consequences
The effect of the president’s delay in Washington was felt around the world.
Resettlement agencies had already booked flights for hundreds of refugees.
Such immigrants must be classified as refugees by the United Nations or other organizations and, according to the National Immigration Forum, an advocacy group, go through several rounds of vetting that can take an average of two years. About 33,000 refugees have received such approval and about 115,000 are in the pipeline for resettlement.