White House weighs sharp reduction in refugees admitted to US

WASHINGTON — Trump administration officials will meet this week to discuss whether to further restrict the number of refugees accepted into the U.S. each year, according to a senior administration official.

Some officials believe the cap should be reduced because of the number of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border and other protections afforded to migrants who live in war-torn countries or those devastated by natural disasters. Some have argued for the number to be 15,000 or fewer, according to two other administration officials. The officials were not allowed to speak publicly and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Nothing has been decided. Senior leaders will meet Tuesday in the Situation Room to discuss the cap, which is set by the president and must be decided before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The New York Times first reported the meeting.

For two years, Stephen Miller, President Trump’s top immigration adviser, has used his considerable influence in the West Wing to reduce the refugee ceiling to its lowest levels in history.

Currently, the cap is set at 30,000, and 28,501 refugees were accepted from Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 6. Last budget year, the cap was 45,000 and 22,491 were admitted. That’s one-quarter of the number allowed to enter two years ago and the lowest since Congress passed a law in 1980 creating the modern resettlement system.

Behind the reductions were more stringent security protocols for citizens of 11 countries designated by the administration as presenting the greatest potential threat.

The State Department acknowledged that the screening and vetting procedures have resulted in fewer refugee admissions in 2018.

The tighter screening of refugees reflects one of Trump’s signature issues. He imposed a...