U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. will accept 85,000 refugees from around the world next year, up from 70,000, and the number will rise to 100,000 in 2017.
The migrants would be referred by the United Nations, screened by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and resettled around America.
Kerry made the announcement Sunday during a visit to Berlin after meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss the mass migration of Syrians fleeing their civil war.
Kerry’s announcement came amid a growing call for the U.S. to do more to relief the escalating crisis. Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that as many as 65,000 Syrian refugees should be taken in.
President Obama said his administration will let in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees.