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WASHINGTON – President Trump plans to limit the number of refugees who can be resettled in the United States to 30,000 next year, his administration said on Monday, further reducing a much-reduced program that provides protection for foreigners fleeing violence and persecution.
Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State, announced the limit to the State Department, saying it reflected the "discouraging operational reality" of what he called a "humanitarian crisis" involving people seeking asylum in states -United.
This figure represents the lowest ceiling that the President has granted to the refugee program since its inception in 1980, and a one-third reduction from the Trump 2018 ceiling of 45,000 people.
This decision is the latest in a series of efforts by the President to fight against immigration to the United States.
It is also the culmination of a quiet but successful effort by Stephen Miller, the president's chief political advisor, to severely restrict the number of refugees receiving protection inside the country. Mr. Miller had insisted the ceiling of the program to 25,000, according to people familiar with the discussions, while others within the administration have supported the maintenance of the ceiling of 45,000 people.
Mr. Pompeo played a key role in the decision and kept his proposal secret until Monday afternoon, when he announced it in the State Department's Treaty Room.
"Some will call the refugee ceiling a comprehensive barometer of the US commitment to vulnerable people around the world," said Pompeo. "That would be wrong."
"The refugee ceiling for this year reflects the substantial increase in the number of asylum seekers in our country, contributing to a massive backlog of pending asylum claims and increased public spending," he said. added.
Gardiner Harris contributed to the report.
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