US President Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress as US Vice-President Kamala Harris and US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi applaud at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2021. Image Credit: AFP

Washington: President Joe Biden announced Monday that he is raising the number of refugees allowed into the United States to 62,500, up from the 15,000 cap imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump.

The change follows heavy criticsm of Biden from allies for his earlier decision to keep the Trump-era limits.

The 15,000 cap “did not reflect America’s values as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees,” Biden said in a statement.