U.S. agrees to Iraqi refugee program

The Bush administration will allow approximately 7,000 Iraqi refugees into the United States over the next year, a huge increase: according to the Associated Press, the U.S. has only allowed 463 refugees from Iraq into the country since the war began.

“Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Wednesday with U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres to outline the expanded U.S. program. The 7,000 would be resettled from nations outside Iraq where they have fled. The U.S. proposal also includes plans to offer special treatment for Iraqis still in the country whose cooperation with the U.S. government puts them at risk from sectarian reprisal.” More