The State Department said Tuesday that it’s still hoping to push through more than 8,000 Syrian refugees through the approval process in the next six months, in order to meet President Obama’s goal of allowing 10,000 to enter in the current fiscal year.
Six months into fiscal year 2016, which started Oct. 1, only about 1,200 Syrian refugees have been admitted. That leaves about 8,800 more that State said officials are not giving up on, even if it means a stepped up pace for admitting them through Sept. 30.
“We’re still very committed to the goal of reaching 10,000 by the end of the year,” State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “We’re mindful of the months left in the fiscal year to do that, but we are very much committed to meeting that goal.”
Republicans have charged that Obama’s goal sets up the potential for the entry of Islamic State fighters disguised as refugees. But Obama administration officials have said they are upholding high standards when it comes to screening them.
Kirby said it can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months on average to process a refugee, and said he’s unclear on how many are in the pipeline now with a chance to be approved by the end of September.
Kirby also indicated that the government would not be looking to rush in a wave of 8,800 refugees just to meet the deadline in six months.
“What we want to do is strike the right balance of meeting the goal that the president set, and we’re absolutely committed to that, at the same time, meeting our obligations to the safety and security of the American people and not changing or watering down or decreasing the level of scrutiny that refugees from Syria are put through before they come here to the United States,” he said.
When asked if getting 8,800 more refugees is a realistic goal, Kirby said, “It is the goal that has been set forth by the commander in chief, we take it seriously and we’re going to continue to do so.”
“At 1,200 now, it’s a tall order to get the rest of the more than 8,000 in by the end of the year,” he said. “We’re not unmindful of the challenge before us, but I can tell you, we’re still committed to it.”
