Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
The Trump administration is projected to fall short of its record-low cap on refugee arrivals this year, according to State Department data and projections by World Relief, a humanitarian organization that works to resettle and care for refugees.
Why it matters: Since Trump took office, the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. has fallen significantly — as has the share of refugees admitted who are non-Christian. Jenny Yang, senior vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, told Axios that the low numbers are due to "cumbersome bureaucracy and delays added upon a process that has worked effectively over the past few years."
By the numbers: At 24,369, there have been slightly more refugees resettled in the U.S. this fiscal year compared to this point last year. But in relation to 2016, the overall number of admitted refugees has fallen by 71%, while the number of Muslim arrivals has fallen by 90%.
- "The low numbers of religious minorities being resettled contradicts the administration's policies and stated goals to actually help persecuted religious minorities around the world," Yang said.
The big picture: The U.S. resettles more refugees than any other wealthy nation, but Canada and Australia now let in more refugees per capita, Yang said. The U.S. also welcomes some humanitarian immigrants through its asylum process — something the Trump administration has targeted through the Justice Department and executive actions.
Go deeper: Read Axios' deep dive on the refugee crisis