Obama wants US to prepare for 10,000 Syrian refugees next year: White House

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has directed his administration to prepare to take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees next year, a White House spokesperson said on Thursday.

The number reflects a "significant scaling up" of the US commitment to accept refugees from the war-torn country and to provide for their basic needs, White House press secretary Josh Earnest.

White House spokesperson says that congress would have to make a significant financial commitment to scale up number of Syrian refugees allowed into the United States, adding that safety and security of the States are top concerns as it looks to allow more refugees.

The United States will have to make a significant financial commitment and take national security precautions in order to increase the number of Syrian refugees it admits, a White House spokesman said on Thursday.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest had said that President Barack Obama was asking federal agencies to prepare to take in up to 10,000 Syrian refugees.

"Congress would need to make a significant financial commitment to ramping up," he said, noting the additional background checks and processing would require greater staffing.

"I do feel confident in telling you that the president will not sign off on a process that cuts corners when it comes to the basic safety and security of the American people and the US homeland," Earnest also said.