DHS, DOS Plan to Resettle 50,000 Refugees from Latin America, Caribbean

Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, Sept. 27, 2023

"The U.S. will aim to resettle up to 50,000 refugees from Latin America and the Caribbean in the next 12 months as part of a Biden administration plan to welcome as many as 125,000 people fleeing violence across the globe in fiscal year 2024, according to internal government memos obtained by CBS News.  While the Biden administration plans to keep the annual 125,000 cap on refugees it has had in place for the past two years, it is also proposing dramatic changes to how those spots are allocated in fiscal year 2024, which starts in October, the internal State Department and Homeland Security documents show.  The departments' proposal envisions the U.S. admitting vastly greater numbers of refugees from the Western Hemisphere as a way to divert migrants away from the U.S.-Mexico border, where illegal crossings have spiked to record levels. The regional allocations are also ranges, as opposed to specific caps, to allow for flexibility in tweaking the program.  The proposal is expected to be sent to President Biden's desk after consultations with Congress on Wednesday, the documents say."