As conflicts in Syria and other parts of the world prompt people to find asylum elsewhere, the Obama administration has a new goal to accept at least 110,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017, according to The Washington Post.
The Post said Secretary of State John Kerry told lawmakers about the new target Tuesday. If established, the goal would represent a 57 percent increase in refugee arrivals since 2015, said the report, which cited a senior administration official.
The question on whether to allow more refugees to enter has been a hot issue in the presidential election. Democrat Hillary Clinton has said the United States should welcome Syrian refugees. Republican Donald Trump has said the U.S. should stop the flow of Syrian refugees and, if elected, said he would ban immigration from areas with terrorism ties.
The White House did not immediately respond for CNBC's request for comment on the Post report.