Donald Trump sets refugee admission limit at 30,000 for fiscal year 2019

President Donald Trump's administration will admit no more than 30,000 refugees during the 2019 fiscal year.

The 30,000-refugee cap is the lowest set since the country standardized resettlement services and programs through the Refugee Act of 1980. Refugee admission limits are set by the president after consultation with Congress.

Trump's 30,000-person ceiling is a drop from the 45,000-person cap he set for 2018 and is in line with his campaign promise to limit legal immigration to the United States. Trump's decision to cut down on the number of people let into the United States reflects his "America First" agenda and his administration's concerns for the safety of Americans.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sept. 17 said the 2019 limit was a sign of the administration's "commitment to protect the most vulnerable around the world while prioritizing the safety and well-being of the American people, as President Trump has directed."

"We must continue to responsibly vet applicants to prevent the entry of those who might do harm to our country," Pompeo said.

In 2018, the United States took in 22,491 refugees — even though the limit was 45,000.

Aside from setting an overall limit for refugee admissions, the United States sets a cap per region. Here's a breakdown for 2019:

• Africa: 11,000

• East Asia: 4,000

• Europe and Central Asia: 3,000

• Latin America/Caribbean: 3,000

• Near East/South Asia: 9,000

Trump is exploring other ways to cut down on legal immigration, including the elimination of the diversity visa program. But so far, he has consistently slashed down the number of refugees to be allowed into the country.

Given his executive actions on this matter, we are moving this promise to Promise Kept.