Biden administration seeks to lift US refugee cap to 125,000 beginning 1 October

Plan comes as tens of thousands of Afghan refugees are on military bases awaiting resettlement

The Biden administration wants to nearly double the number of refugees admitted to the United States to 125,000 in the fiscal year starting on 1 October in keeping with a campaign promise, according to a statement from the state department.

The state department will consult with the Department of Homeland Security and Congress to lift the cap, which was set at 62,500 for the 2020 fiscal year, ending this month, the statement said.