US slashes refugee intake to 45,000, humanitarian groups decries move

The Trump administration has decided to slash refugee intake next year to around 45,000.

Reducing the number to half of the cap in 2016, a presidential determination is expected to be issued in the coming days.

The regional breakdown will be: Africa, 19,000; East Asia, 5,000; Europe and Central Asia, 2,000; Latin America and the Caribbean, 1,500; Near East South Asia, 17,000, reported PTI.

"The security and safety of the American people is our chief concern," a government official told the agency.

"While maintaining the United States leadership role in humanitarian protection, an integral part of this mission is to ensure that refugee resettlement opportunities only go to those who are eligible for such protection and who are not known to present a risk to the safety and security of our country," the official said.

However, the humanitarian groups decried the move terming it as cruel.

"A refugee admissions ceiling of 45,000 is completely unacceptable and does not reflect the needs of the worldwide humanitarian crisis.According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are 22.5 million refugees and 65.6 million forcibly displaced people worldwide," said Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Such a move is inhumane, said Senator Tom carper.

(With inputs from Reuters)