Officials: U.S. to increase number of refugees by 5,000 next year to help ease migrant crisis

WASHINGTON — The United States is prepared to increase the number of refugees it resettles by at least 5,000 next year as European countries struggle to accommodate tens of thousands of refugees from the Middle East and Africa.

Two officials and a congressional aide said that Secretary of State John Kerry told members of Congress in a private meeting Wednesday that the United States will boost its worldwide quota for resettling refugees from 70,000 to 75,000 next year, and that number could rise. A fraction of those would be from Syria.

http://www.startribune.com/kerry-to-meet-with-lawmakers-about-migrant-crisis-abroad/325870801/