It has been seven years since the United States opened its borders to tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees. And they keep coming. Last year, over 20,000 crossed the border—a record number. More than 1,500 more have come so far in 2015, as of Jan. 31, foretelling another high year. So where are they settling?
Since the Iraq War started in 2003, some 2 million people fled the country, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
For years, the United States only accepted a handful of refugees, fomenting criticism.
In 2007, U.S. ambassador to Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, called on President George W. Bush to guarantee save haven to all the Iraqis who aided the United States during the war, possibly tens of thousands. They were facing violent threats in the unstable country, Crocker said, according to Washington Post.
Since then over 110,000 have come to the United States.
