Biden backtracking

After a backlash from Democrats and human rights activists, the White House abruptly reversed course on Friday on the number of refugees it will allow into the United States, a reflection of President Biden’s continuing struggle with immigration policy.

At midday on Friday, the administration had said it would limit the number of refugees allowed into the United States this year to the historically low level of 15,000 set by the Trump administration, breaking an earlier pledge to greatly increase that number and let in more than 60,000 people fleeing war and persecution.

But that announcement drew immediate criticism from Democratic leaders.

[...]

Maintaining the Trump-era admissions level would leave thousands of refugees who have been approved to travel to the United States stranded in camps around the world. Roughly 35,000 refugees have already been vetted by the U.S. government and are prepared to travel to the United States.

[...]

“Facing the greatest refugee crisis in our time, there is no reason to limit the number to 15,000,” [Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and the majority whip,] said. “Say it ain’t so, President Joe.”

Just hours later, the White House put out a statement saying it expected to increase the cap next month. It did not comment when asked to specify the number.

The sudden shifts come as the United States struggles with a surge of unaccompanied children and teenagers at the Mexican border, and growing concerns that the increase has already overwhelmed the refugee branch of the Department of Health and Human Services.

  NYT

Check out this podcast on the border situation:

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE:

The least objectionable element in this sad episode is that the president is reneging on a campaign promise. After all, he can still boost the cap later in his term, although his having surrendered on the issue this time around weakens his bargaining position in the future. What is really galling is that the administration is accepting—and, thereby endorsing—an immigration cap that arose out of the xenophobia and white supremacist polices of the previous administration*. I wouldn’t drink out of the same water fountain as Stephen Miller, let alone sign aboard his immigration policies. What could this president possibly be thinking?

[...]

It was the first serious political peril the administration has faced since it took office, and I don’t think anyone was ready for it. Which is no excuse. This is just plain, ordinary cowardice. We had a right to expect better.

  Esquire