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Syrian refugees' US resettlement stalled over security concerns

Critics say the United States should accept 65,000 Syrian refugees by the end of next year, but the numbers are likely to fall far short.
Anne C. Richard (L), assistant secretary of state for population, refugees, and migration, and Nancy Lindborg (front, 2nd R), USAID assistant administrator for democracy, conflict, and humanitarian assistance, visit the Al Zaatri Syrian refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria January 28, 2013.  REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3D2Y8

Anne Richard, assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, says the United States will have accepted 2,000 Syrian refugees for permanent resettlement by September and will take “thousands more” next year to help cope with the world’s worst refugee crisis.

In an interview with Al-Monitor July 14, Richard acknowledged that the pace of resettlement has been slower than she had hoped. She said the reason was the extraordinary amount of scrutiny Syrian refugees are required to undergo to make sure that there are no potential or actual terrorists or other criminals among them.

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