Trump Administration's Plan To Slash Refugee Admissions 'Callous' - US Lawmaker

The Trump administration's decision to slash refugee admissions to a record low in 2019 was "callous" and without merit, US lawmaker David Cicilline said in a press release on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th September, 2018) The Trump administration's decision to slash refugee admissions to a record low in 2019 was "callous" and without merit, US lawmaker David Cicilline said in a press release on Tuesday.

"The callous decision announced today by Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo, made outside of the statutory process that governs refugee admissions, is sadly, entirely in keeping with this administration's concerted efforts to prevent legal immigration into this country," the release said.

The congressman from Rhode Island added that the administration's attempts to justify the cuts based on national security or tackling a backlog are entirely without merit.

"This is a shameful day for our country," Cicilline said.

On Monday, Secretary Pompeo announced that the United States will cap refugee admissions at 30,000 in 2019.

The cap represents a 33 percent reduction from 45,000 refugees permitted this year and marks the lowest number allowed into the country since the refugee resettlement program began in 1980.