BG refugee reacts to Biden’s increase in refugee cap

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- President Joe Biden has lifted the refugee cap from 15,000 under the Trump administration to 62,500. 

Bernadine Shing Lin Naing, is a refugee from Burma. He fled to the United States in 2013 because of conflict and issues within the government. 

“A lot of conflicts, especially as a minority, I would say that we are totally forgotten. A lot of people misunderstood that. I would say the world misunderstood that,” said Naing. 

He said he is overjoyed about this decision and hopes other refugees find solace in the country like he did years ago.  

“I really appreciate the President Joe Biden, for doing that. Because there’s a lot more refugees in Malaysia, Thailand, I’m talking about Burmese refugees. They are hoping one day to be re-sorted, they are going to find peace, they are going to find hope,” said Naing. 

Some reports said that this decision comes after criticism that Biden had kept the cap at 15,000 for a few months now. But Albert Mbanfu, Executive Director of the International Center of Kentucky said this is a good sign. 

“I want to give the administration some slack, a little bit of room here. We have to understand that before the Biden administration took over, the previous administration had actually destroyed this program. In fact they had dismantled a lot of the infrastructure.”

He said this is the first step in the right direction.

“That’s a sign of good faith. That’s a sign to tell us that they will respect the tradition of this country which is welcoming people and to give them a second chance, to start life all over and contribute to the development of themselves, their families, and the United States,” said Mbanfu.