*EPF111 10/04/2004
Text: U.S. Refugee Admissions Near 53,000 for Fiscal 2004
(Admissions up 85 percent over 2003, State Department says) (270)
The U.S. State Department announced October 4 that refugee resettlements totaled almost 53,000 during the fiscal year that ended September 30.
Spokesman Adam Ereli said the more than 85 percent increase in admissions of refugees to the United States reflects the successful implementation of new policies and procedures incorporated into the resettlement process. The departments of State and Homeland Security closely scrutinized those processes after the September 2001 terrorist attacks focused new attention on security concerns.
The text of the Ereli statement follows.
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
October 4, 2004
STATEMENT BY ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2004
Through the U.S. Resettlement Program, the United States admitted 52,875 refugees representing more than 40 nationalities during fiscal year 2004. This represents more than an 85% increase over the number of refugees admitted in fiscal year 2003.
The success of this year's program is a result of extraordinary efforts and coordination among federal agencies, international and non-governmental organizations, and overseas partners in successfully implementing and streamlining enhanced security requirements following September 11, 2001.
The United States remains committed to a vigorous refugee admissions program and will continue to welcome refugees for whom resettlement is the most appropriate durable solution. Since 1975, we have admitted over 2.5 million refugees for resettlement in the United States. We lead the world in offering resettlement to those in need, and we encourage other countries to participate actively in this humanitarian effort.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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