The Trump administration is drastically cutting the number of refugees it lets into the country.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that just 30,000 refugees will be allowed in the United States in 2019, the lowest number admitted since the program was established in 1980.
The is a third less than the 45,000 cap President Donald Trump set for 2018.
Pompeo said the U.S. expects to process up to 30,000 refugees and 280,000 asylum seekers in fiscal year 2019, which begins on Oct. 1.
Pompeo insisted that the figure “must be considered in the context of the many other forms of protection and assistance offered by the United States.”
He cited national security as the main reason behind the reduction, saying the system did not allow for properly vetting the refugees for possible ties to terrorism.
During former President Barack Obama's last year in office, his administration admitted nearly 85,000 refugees.