Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2014

This presidential determination sets the annual refugee admissions ceiling at 70,000 for fiscal year 2014, with specific regional allocations, and authorizes in-country refugee processing for certain nationalities including Cubans, Iraqis, and persons in Eurasia and the Baltics. It also designates overseas refugee assistance as serving U.S. foreign policy interests under the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 62415

Impact dates

Sep 30, 2014
FY 2014 refugee admissions ceiling expires
Oct 2, 2013
Secretary of State to report determination to Congress immediately
Oct 2, 2013
Publish determination in Federal Register

Key directives

Set FY 2014 refugee admissions ceiling at 70,000
Allocate admissions across six regional categories with specific numerical caps
Authorize use of 2,000 unallocated reserve admissions upon notification to Congress Judiciary Committees
Authorize transfer of unused regional admissions to other regions upon congressional notification
Designate overseas refugee assistance as serving U.S. foreign policy interests under Migration and Refugee Assistance Act
Specify in-country refugee processing eligibility for persons in Cuba, Eurasia/Baltics, Iraq, and exceptional circumstances via U.S. Embassies
Direct Secretary of State to report determination to Congress immediately and publish in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

70,000 refugee admissions ceiling takes effect for FY 2014 (October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2014)
Secretary of State authorized to report determination to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

Regional allocations become operational for refugee processing

Long term

Annual refugee admissions policy framework continues; potential reallocation of unallocated reserve and unused regional admissions throughout FY 2014

Risks & tensions

Regional allocations may not match emergent refugee crises, requiring politically sensitive congressional notifications for reallocation
In-country processing designations for Cuba, Iraq, and Eurasia/Baltics reflect ongoing geopolitical tensions with those regions
70,000 ceiling represented flat level from prior years, potentially constraining response to Syrian refugee crisis emerging in 2013-2014