O’Malley pushes Obama to accept more refugees

Martin O’Malley said on Tuesday that President Obama is not providing a safe haven for enough of the refugees from the Syrian civil war.

“I appreciate your administration’s attention to this issue, but I was disappointed to learn that the United States would only accept 10,000 Syrian refugees next year,” the former Maryland governor wrote in a letter to Obama obtained by The Hill.

{mosads}“We can do more than a token increase,” the 2016 Democratic presidential contender added. “Our credibility as a leader of nations requires that we do more. And the principles of our country demand that we do more.”

O’Malley’s letter follows Obama’s announcement last week that the U.S. would accept at least 10,000 Syrian refugees.

He argued on Tuesday that the nation’s refugee cap should be much higher given the strain the tide of humanity is placing on America’s allies overseas.

“I have called for the United States to accept at least 65,000 Syrian refugees by 2017 – a number that is consistent with past U.S. policy and requests from humanitarian organizations,” O’Malley wrote.

“Germany has one-fourth our population and is accepting 800,000 refugees this year, and 500,000 in subsequent years,” the former Maryland governor said as an example.

O’Malley acknowledged that Obama must find a balance between safety at home and charity abroad.

“As a former governor, I am aware of the precautions that must be taken to protect our homeland,” he said.

“But our country is large enough and compassionate enough to welcome 65,000 Syrian refugees by 2017, and I encourage you to do everything in your power to respond appropriately to this moral imperative,” O’Malley added.

An estimated 4 million Syrians have fled the multi-faction civil war that began raging four years ago.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is struggling for control over his war-torn nation amid challenges from rebels and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

O’Malley’s remarks come as he continues to struggle for traction in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination

He is currently drawing the support of about two percent of Democratic voters, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling average.