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| As European Migrant Crisis Grows, U.S. Considers Taking in More Syrians | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Facing mounting pressure to respond more aggressively to the migrant crisis unfolding across Europe, the White House on Tuesday said it was re-examining whether it should increase its assistance, including resettling more Syrians in the United States. | WASHINGTON — Facing mounting pressure to respond more aggressively to the migrant crisis unfolding across Europe, the White House on Tuesday said it was re-examining whether it should increase its assistance, including resettling more Syrians in the United States. |
| As the leaders of Germany and Sweden appealed to other European nations to take their fair share of migrants, American officials hinted that the United States might be moving toward an increase. White House officials said a “working group” at the State Department was “actively considering” a range of options, including refugee resettlement. | As the leaders of Germany and Sweden appealed to other European nations to take their fair share of migrants, American officials hinted that the United States might be moving toward an increase. White House officials said a “working group” at the State Department was “actively considering” a range of options, including refugee resettlement. |
| The United States currently limits the number of migrants from Syria to 1,500 per year, a tiny fraction of the millions who have flowed out of the war-ravaged country. Officials declined to say whether a sizable increase in the cap had been discussed. | The United States currently limits the number of migrants from Syria to 1,500 per year, a tiny fraction of the millions who have flowed out of the war-ravaged country. Officials declined to say whether a sizable increase in the cap had been discussed. |
| “The international community is looking at the United States right now to determine what additional steps we can take to try to confront, or help Europe confront, this difficult challenge,” said Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary. “We’re certainly mindful of the urgency around increasing the resources and response.” | “The international community is looking at the United States right now to determine what additional steps we can take to try to confront, or help Europe confront, this difficult challenge,” said Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary. “We’re certainly mindful of the urgency around increasing the resources and response.” |
| Human rights activists and others have been increasingly critical of the United States for what they say is an inadequate response. Critics also say that the United States has not done enough to end the violence that has sent Syrians fleeing, often at great risk, to Europe. | Human rights activists and others have been increasingly critical of the United States for what they say is an inadequate response. Critics also say that the United States has not done enough to end the violence that has sent Syrians fleeing, often at great risk, to Europe. |
| The United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a nongovernmental agency, has urged President Obama to open American borders to 100,000 Syrians in the next year, in addition to expanding opportunities for resettlement for other migrants. | The United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a nongovernmental agency, has urged President Obama to open American borders to 100,000 Syrians in the next year, in addition to expanding opportunities for resettlement for other migrants. |
| “We call on our government to continue to show the leadership we have seen in past crises to rescue people who were persecuted,” said Stacie Blake, the director of government relations for the committee. “We cannot stand by and see these photographs of people dying and drowning and running for their lives and not feel compelled to do more.” | “We call on our government to continue to show the leadership we have seen in past crises to rescue people who were persecuted,” said Stacie Blake, the director of government relations for the committee. “We cannot stand by and see these photographs of people dying and drowning and running for their lives and not feel compelled to do more.” |
| David Miliband, the head of the International Rescue Committee and a former British foreign secretary, said on ABC’s “This Week” program on Sunday that accepting 1,500 refugees into the United States was “a minuscule contribution to tackling the human side of this problem.” | David Miliband, the head of the International Rescue Committee and a former British foreign secretary, said on ABC’s “This Week” program on Sunday that accepting 1,500 refugees into the United States was “a minuscule contribution to tackling the human side of this problem.” |
| And in two weeks, Pope Francis is expected to highlight the migrants’ plight during a visit to the White House. On Sunday, the pope called on Catholic parishes and religious communities to take in refugees, a message that could put further pressure on the Obama administration. | And in two weeks, Pope Francis is expected to highlight the migrants’ plight during a visit to the White House. On Sunday, the pope called on Catholic parishes and religious communities to take in refugees, a message that could put further pressure on the Obama administration. |
| White House officials took pains on Tuesday to focus on what they said had already been significant assistance from the United States. Mr. Earnest said the United States had provided about $4 billion to help improve conditions at migrant camps in Europe, making America the biggest donor. | White House officials took pains on Tuesday to focus on what they said had already been significant assistance from the United States. Mr. Earnest said the United States had provided about $4 billion to help improve conditions at migrant camps in Europe, making America the biggest donor. |
| Mr. Earnest suggested that the State Department review would also include the possibility of more money to help European nations deal with the influx. | Mr. Earnest suggested that the State Department review would also include the possibility of more money to help European nations deal with the influx. |
| John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said that the United States had taken in 1,300 Syrians since January and expected several hundred more by the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1. But he said resettlement was only one option under consideration. | John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said that the United States had taken in 1,300 Syrians since January and expected several hundred more by the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1. But he said resettlement was only one option under consideration. |
| Mr. Kirby said that Secretary of State John Kerry had told his top aides at a staff meeting on Tuesday morning that “if you’ve got good ideas and options” for better helping the international community deal with the crisis, “including here in the United States,” he wanted to hear them. | Mr. Kirby said that Secretary of State John Kerry had told his top aides at a staff meeting on Tuesday morning that “if you’ve got good ideas and options” for better helping the international community deal with the crisis, “including here in the United States,” he wanted to hear them. |
| Ms. Blake, of the Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, said her group wanted the president to increase the overall limit on refugees coming into the United States to 100,000 from 70,000. That would be in addition to the 100,000 Syrians that the committee has urged be admitted. | Ms. Blake, of the Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, said her group wanted the president to increase the overall limit on refugees coming into the United States to 100,000 from 70,000. That would be in addition to the 100,000 Syrians that the committee has urged be admitted. |
| But Mr. Obama also faces political considerations. Congress would have to approve additional funding for the State Department and the federal Office of Resettlement, which could be difficult when he is already battling the Republican-controlled Congress over other budget priorities. | But Mr. Obama also faces political considerations. Congress would have to approve additional funding for the State Department and the federal Office of Resettlement, which could be difficult when he is already battling the Republican-controlled Congress over other budget priorities. |
| And Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates have begun to question the wisdom of letting in more Syrians, suggesting that doing so could pose a risk of terrorist attacks. | And Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates have begun to question the wisdom of letting in more Syrians, suggesting that doing so could pose a risk of terrorist attacks. |
| Mr. Earnest said the United States always considers national security issues when admitting refugees. But, he said, “I would not anticipate that a serious policy decision like the one that’s currently being considered by the administration is going to be strongly influenced by the political debate in the Republican presidential primary, regardless of how irresponsible that rhetoric may become.” | Mr. Earnest said the United States always considers national security issues when admitting refugees. But, he said, “I would not anticipate that a serious policy decision like the one that’s currently being considered by the administration is going to be strongly influenced by the political debate in the Republican presidential primary, regardless of how irresponsible that rhetoric may become.” |
| On Wednesday, President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission will unveil a divisive proposal calling for refugees to be distributed across the 28-member bloc. | On Wednesday, President Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission will unveil a divisive proposal calling for refugees to be distributed across the 28-member bloc. |
| Although the German vice chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said this week that his country could accept 500,000 migrants annually for several years, the leaders of Germany and Sweden — which are among the favored destinations of the droves of migrants streaming into Europe — were lobbying for all European Union states to agree to take in a certain number of migrants, relative to each nation’s population and wealth. | Although the German vice chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said this week that his country could accept 500,000 migrants annually for several years, the leaders of Germany and Sweden — which are among the favored destinations of the droves of migrants streaming into Europe — were lobbying for all European Union states to agree to take in a certain number of migrants, relative to each nation’s population and wealth. |
| The influx has presented Europe with one of its toughest migration challenges in decades, and leaders have been unable to agree on a coherent strategy, intensifying anti-immigrant sentiment in some quarters. | The influx has presented Europe with one of its toughest migration challenges in decades, and leaders have been unable to agree on a coherent strategy, intensifying anti-immigrant sentiment in some quarters. |
| As Britain, France and Germany announced measures on Monday to take in more asylum seekers, Denmark and Hungary sought to dissuade migrants from coming, and Greece made an urgent plea to the European Union for financial aid to help process migrants on the island of Lesbos. | As Britain, France and Germany announced measures on Monday to take in more asylum seekers, Denmark and Hungary sought to dissuade migrants from coming, and Greece made an urgent plea to the European Union for financial aid to help process migrants on the island of Lesbos. |
| Mr. Juncker is expected to announce a proposal for the distribution of 160,000 migrants across the bloc. But when such a quota proposal was floated in the past, it drew fierce opposition. | Mr. Juncker is expected to announce a proposal for the distribution of 160,000 migrants across the bloc. But when such a quota proposal was floated in the past, it drew fierce opposition. |
| Most averse to the idea were countries in Eastern or Central Europe, like Hungary, who consider asylum decisions a matter of national sovereignty and have robustly argued against policies that they fear could undermine the bloc’s security and encourage more migration. | Most averse to the idea were countries in Eastern or Central Europe, like Hungary, who consider asylum decisions a matter of national sovereignty and have robustly argued against policies that they fear could undermine the bloc’s security and encourage more migration. |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said that, in addition to negotiating a binding solution for equal distribution of migrants, Europe needed to improve cooperation with Turkey, which has taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrians but has also become a major transit country for those trying to reach northern Europe. | Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said that, in addition to negotiating a binding solution for equal distribution of migrants, Europe needed to improve cooperation with Turkey, which has taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrians but has also become a major transit country for those trying to reach northern Europe. |
| The growing stream of migrants into Europe comes as fighting in Syria has driven more people to flee in recent weeks, and as deteriorating conditions in neighboring countries are pushing many to head straight for Europe, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday. | The growing stream of migrants into Europe comes as fighting in Syria has driven more people to flee in recent weeks, and as deteriorating conditions in neighboring countries are pushing many to head straight for Europe, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday. |
| At the same time, United Nations agencies reported that low levels of funding were forcing them to cut food and other aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrians, another factor pushing many into hazardous journeys to Europe by land and sea. | At the same time, United Nations agencies reported that low levels of funding were forcing them to cut food and other aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrians, another factor pushing many into hazardous journeys to Europe by land and sea. |
| The Danish government responded to the growing humanitarian crisis with a barely veiled warning to migrants in Lebanon not to come to the prosperous Nordic country. | The Danish government responded to the growing humanitarian crisis with a barely veiled warning to migrants in Lebanon not to come to the prosperous Nordic country. |
| Danish newspaper advertisements highlighted the stringent regulations and constraints that await migrants: It can take five years to attain permanent residency; there are tough requirements on learning Danish; those who are granted temporary residency permits will not have the right to bring over family members in the first year after they arrive; and recent changes in the country have slashed welfare benefits for them by 50 percent. | Danish newspaper advertisements highlighted the stringent regulations and constraints that await migrants: It can take five years to attain permanent residency; there are tough requirements on learning Danish; those who are granted temporary residency permits will not have the right to bring over family members in the first year after they arrive; and recent changes in the country have slashed welfare benefits for them by 50 percent. |
| In Greece, there were skirmishes overnight between the police and migrants on Lesbos, which has been severely strained by the influx of migrants. The Greek immigration minister, Yiannis Mouzalas, said the situation was “one step before an explosion,” adding that up to 17,000 refugees were on the island, which has a population of 85,000. | In Greece, there were skirmishes overnight between the police and migrants on Lesbos, which has been severely strained by the influx of migrants. The Greek immigration minister, Yiannis Mouzalas, said the situation was “one step before an explosion,” adding that up to 17,000 refugees were on the island, which has a population of 85,000. |