The US will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and other displaced people who are escaping the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a senior administration official told reporters traveling with President Joe Biden on Thursday.
Their entry will be permitted through a range of pathways, including the US Refugee Admissions Program, nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and by other means. There will also be a focus on welcoming Ukrainians who have family members in the US already.
White House officials think most people fleeing Ukraine will want to stay closer to home, and choose to remain in Europe.
Over 3.5 million people have fled since Russia invaded Ukraine a month ago to date, according to the United Nations.
The Biden Administration said in a statement it would use ‘the full range of legal pathways,’ including the refugee resettlement program, to help Ukrainians looking to come to America.
A second White House official told reporters that President Biden also plans to announce $1 billion in new funding for humanitarian aid for Ukrainians and refugees in neighboring nations.
The announcement comes as President Joe Biden meets with European leaders in Brussels to coordinate the Western response to the ongoing crisis.
This is a breaking news story, check back for updates…
