Oct. 14 –– President George Bush allocated some 2,500 refugee visas to South Asia, far less than to other regions of the world for the period 2005. The FY 2005 Refugee Admissions Numbers and Authorizations of In-Country Refugee Status, which he signed back on Sept. 30, was published in the Federal Register Oct. 14, and agrees to admit 70,000 refugees to the country during 2005.

Africa ....20,000

East Asia ....13,000

Europe and Central Asia ....9,500

Latin America, Caribbean ....5,000

Near East/South Asia ....2,500

Unallocated Reserve ....20,000

An additional 10,000 refugee admissions numbers shall be made available during FY 2005 for the adjustment to permanent resident status for aliens who have been granted asylum in the U.S. under section 208 of the Act (8 U.S.C. 1158), as this is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.