Chart showing numberof Syrian refugges taken by the U.S. between 2011-2015 and the plan to take 10,000 by 2016

President Obama has agreed to raise the number of Syrian refugees admitted to at least 10,000 in the fiscal year beginning in October from fewer than 2,000 this year.

Aid groups called the administration’s action a token one given the size of the American economy and population, while a number of Republicans warned that Mr. Obama was allowing in potential terrorists. “Our enemy now is Islamic terrorism, and these people are coming from a country filled with Islamic terrorists,” said Representative Peter T. King, Republican of New York. “We don’t want another Boston Marathon bombing situation.”

Obama Increases Number of Syrian Refugees for U.S. Resettlement to 10,000