As you know, the fiscal year ended on September 30th and the numbers are in. Go here (Refugee Admissions Report as of Sep 30, 2013) and see for yourself.
For fiscal year 2013 the Obama Administration wanted 70,000 refugees (the same number they are shooting for in 2014***) and came awfully close with 69,930. The contractors, who are used to coming in way under the goal, are probably jumping for joy since they are paid by the head to bring refugees to your towns and cities.
Iraqis top the list with 19,491 resettled!
Burma comes in at number two with 16,299.
Bhutan (Nepal): 9,134
Somalia: 7,608 (a very high number compared to recent years)
Cuba: 4,205
Iran: 2,579
DR Congo: 2,563 (that is just a starter, we are expected to take 50,000 in the next few years).
Of note: we admitted 164 Palestinians, a small number, but as you know Palestinians are not usually resettled around the world.
*** We are waiting anxiously for the report to Congress that accompanies the Presidential Determination. Let us know if you see it!
The photo is from a story I didn’t have time to post from The Republican in Springfield, Mass. It’s the first story I’ve seen in awhile where Iraqis complain about their lives here. For awhile, a few years ago, it seemed there were weekly reports of unhappy Iraqis. See our Iraqi refugee category (590 posts!), here, for more.