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WASHINGTON — The Bush administration surpassed by nearly 2,000 its goal to admit 12,000 Iraqi refugees in the last budget year amid criticism it has not set the target high enough for the coming 12 months.
The United States allowed 13,823 Iraqi refugees into the country between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, 2008, according to State Department figures.
This easily beats the goal the administration set for itself last year when it was under heavy criticism after admitting only 1,608.
President Bush said on Tuesday the U.S. would accept up to 80,000 refugees from around the world — including 37,000 from the Middle East and South Asia — in the next 12 months, the same ceiling his administration set last year.
