Topic: U.S. Exceeds Goal In Admitting Iraqis

Washington Times
October 2, 2008
Pg. 2
Refugees


The Bush administration surpassed by nearly 2,000 its goal to admit 12,000 Iraqi refugees in the last budget year amid criticism it has not set the target high enough for the coming 12 months.
The U.S. allowed 13,823 Iraqi refugees into the country between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, according to State Department figures obtained by the Associated Press on Wednesday. This easily beats the goal the administration set for itself last year when it was under heavy criticism after admitting only 1,608.
Refugee advocates, human rights groups and some members of Congress at the time denounced what they said was a dereliction of U.S. responsibility to the more than 2 million Iraqis who have fled their country since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, prompting the administration to streamline the admissions process and expand its processing operation.
On Sept. 12, the State Department announced it had met the 12,000 target with two weeks to go until the deadline. It set a goal of admitting at least 17,000 Iraqi refugees during the next budget year, which runs until Sept. 30.