It also increased support for Eastern European countries who have received most of those fleeing Russian forces. This is a small number compared to the needs, as there are an estimated 3.5million refugees and many more people displaced in Ukraine. This is also a modest number by historical standards, much less than those who arrived from Southeast Asia decades before.
Let’s take a look at the situation.
WHAT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED
While visiting Brussels to meet European allies, President Joe Biden stated that the United States would accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. He also promised $1 billion in humanitarian aid to countries affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Financial support is essential because the majority of the approximately 3 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing Ukraine live in neighbouring countries like Romania, Moldova, Poland and Romania, which are carrying a significant burden.
Biden said that he hopes to visit refugees during his European trip and said, “This is not something Poland, Romania or Germany should handle on their own.” This is an international responsibility.”
Since the White House had been stating for weeks that the U.S. would accept Ukrainian refugees at one point or another, the White House announcement was not surprising. Officials maintain that the majority of refugees would prefer to stay in Europe as they have relatives there and are more likely to return home when it’s safe.
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Who is coming, when and where will they go?
Biden stated at a news conference that the first Ukrainian refugees to come to the U.S. are those with family in the United States.
According to officials from the administration, who were not allowed to discuss details publicly before they were made public, the U.S. refugee effort will also be focused on refugees who are particularly vulnerable after the Russian invasion. These include LGBTQ people, journalists, and dissidents.
Although the administration didn’t give a time frame, it is usually a long process. Officials also said that all 100,000 refugees may not arrive in this year. The majority of the refugees will likely settle in areas of the U.S. with large numbers of Ukrainians. These areas include New York City, Pennsylvania, Chicago, and Northern California.
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Is THAT A LARGE RANGE OF REFUGEES
It is not enough to meet the needs, as there are approximately 3.5 million people who have fled Ukraine and many more who are internally displaced.
It is also small by historical standards. In 1980, the United States took in more that 200,000 refugees, mainly from Southeast Asia. According to State Department statistics, the total was more than 730,000 between 1975 and 1981. The U.S. has accepted more than 76,000 Afghans since August, when it pulled out of Afghanistan. This includes many former military interpreters as well as their families.
In consultation with Congress, the administration set the annual cap on refugees for the 2022 budget years at 125,000. This does not include the number of Afghans who were evacuated. According to the administration, it doesn’t plan to immediately raise the cap as many Ukrainians are eligible to be brought to the U.S. under humanitarian parole and family reunification programs.
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WHAT HAS COMMENCED THE REACTION?
The administration has been urged by refugee advocates to speed up the processing of refugees even before Russia invaded Ukraine. This was even though refugee resettlement agencies were experiencing difficulties due to cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration, which slashed refugee admissions caps to an historic low of 15,000,000.
Advocates welcomed Thursday’s announcement as did members from Congress with large Ukrainian populations within their districts, like New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell.
He stated that “Until now, the rate at which Ukraine refugees are accepted by our country has been lacking urgency.” “But this morning, the Biden administration’s announcement to accept 100,000 refugees from Ukraine gives urgency for this moment.”
Public support seems to also be evident.
According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 82% of Americans say they support humanitarian aid to Ukraine refugees. 67% of Americans favor welcoming refugees from Ukraine to the United States. Only 13% oppose, while 21% are neutral.
