The United States has approved 59 refugees of the Iraq war here, the government said Tuesday, the first of a possible 7,000 "vulnerable" Iraqis to be offered sanctuary in the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that the department has approved the cases of 59 Iraqis after developing "enhanced screening procedures" for those hoping to resettle in the United States, especially Iraqis who had worked with US-led coalition forces.
"This department has been actively interviewing Iraqi refugees for potential resettlement, and has already completed interviews for more than 300 cases affecting more than 700 Iraqis," Chertoff said in a statement.
"The first 20 cases involving 59 individuals have been approved and these refugees will travel to the US in the coming weeks."
Chertoff said that the department's improved screening operations opened the door to the Iraq resettlement program, with the government committed to accepting up to 7,000 "of the most vulnerable Iraqi refugees, such as persons whose lives may be in jeopardy because they worked for coalition forces."
