Democrats and human rights groups blasted the earlier announcement that the caps would stay the same for now.
Rep. Ilham Omar, D-Minn., called Biden's decision to keep the Trump-era cap "shameful."
"As a refugee, I know finding a home is a matter of life or death for children around the world," tweeted Omar, herself a refugee whose family fled Somalia's civil war in the 1990s. "It is shameful that @POTUS is reneging on a key promise to welcome refugees."
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called the decision "unacceptable and unconscionable," and said Biden "has broken his promise to restore our humanity."
"We cannot turn our backs on refugees around the world, including hundreds of refugees who have already been cleared for resettlement, have sold their belongings, and are ready to board flights," she said in a statement.
Biden's decision comes as the world faces an unprecedented refugee crisis. There were more than 25 million refugees across the globe as of mid-2020, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
Although the refugee resettlement program is separate from border issues, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that "it is a factor."
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