Report: Pentagon Concerned About Sharp Drop in Iraqi Refugees Admitted to U.S.

The Pentagon is worried about a dramatic drop this year in the number of Iraqi refugees who have been admitted to the U.S., with officials fearing that the dip may ultimately “harm” national security by not encouraging locals to aid American forces. Reuters reports that Iraqis who’ve aided American troops by working for the U.S. government or contractors in conflict zones can seek entry to the U.S. through a special refugee program. But as of August 15, just 48 Iraqis who applied were admitted to the U.S. this year—a sharp drop compared to the more than 3,000 who were admitted last year. In 2016, approximately 5,100 Iraqis came to the U.S. through the special program. More than 100,000 Iraqis had applied for the special program as of late July, and the current refugee cap in the United States is 45,000. A Department of Homeland Security Official told Reuters that refugees now “undergo more thorough security vetting than ever before.”