U.S. to increase refugee admission to 100,000 in 2017

The U.S. will take in 100,000 refugees in 2017, Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday, The New York Times reports. The nation's current cap on admitting refugees is 70,000.

Kerry announced the increase in Germany after discussing Europe's migrant crisis, which is leaving countries overwhelmed by the influx of Syrian refugees seeking asylum and other migrants.

Under the new plan, the U.S. would issue visas to 85,000 refugees in fiscal year 2016. Background checks will ensure terrorists aren't infiltrating refugees, Kerry said. The increased figures are designed to make room for the U.S. to take in a higher number of Syrian refugees, an initiative President Obama recently called for.

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"This step is in keeping with America's best tradition as a land of second chances and a beacon of hope," Kerry said. "And it will be accompanied by continued financial contributions to the humanitarian effort — not only from the U.S. government, but from the American people. The need is enormous, but we are determined to answer the call."