This month the total number of Syrian refugees admitted to the U.S. nearly doubled since October, and the 2,381 refugees admitted this June more than doubled May's total of 1,069. The U.S. has taken in 5,186 refugees this fiscal year.
The low numbers of Christian refugees have drawn criticism of the State Department's efforts to reach the government's 10,000 refugee goal by September 30, 2016. The refugee demographic data does not match Syria's, where 87 percent of the country is Muslim, while the refugees are over 99 percent Muslim.
The chart below shows the sharp increase in the refugee admissions, a trend that began after the process was shortened from 18 to three months:
Christians are not the only demographic underrepresented by the refugees. The refugee population of young adult males, aged 21 to 30 years old, is disproportionately low.
In most age groups the majority of refugees are men, and women are equal or less in number. Only 84 (3.5 percent) of this month's group were men in this age range, while 139 women were admitted in the same category. These men join the 234 (4.5 percent) 21 to 30-year-old male refugees admitted this fiscal year.
This month only 9 refugees, or 0.38 percent, were not Muslim. That brings the fiscal year's total to 32 non-Muslim Syrian refugees, or 0.62 percent, 17 of whom are Christians.
The State Department is now 4,814 refugees shy of its goal, which it could accomplish in mid-August if it continues at the current rate.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member