Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, slammed the Trump administration Tuesday for announcing it was slashing the number of refugees it would accept in 2019 before consulting with Congress, The Hill reports.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Monday the U.S. would accept up to 30,000 refugees in the country next year, down from a cap of 45,000 this year. The figure will be the lowest ceiling on admissions since the program started in 1980.
"While I appreciate the administration's commitment to protecting national security and public safety by proposing a refugee cap, which accounts for the need to conduct adequate and thorough screenings of all who seek this benefit, it is imperative the agencies abide by their statutory mandate to consult with Congress before any number is proposed," Grassley said in a statement.
"Yet, for the second year in a row, the administration has willfully ignored its statutory mandate to inform and consult with Congress, including designated members of both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, about the number of refugees to be admitted during the next fiscal year."
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