(WASHINGTONTIMES) — President Obama marked the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha Monday with a call for the U.S. to welcome refugees and immigrants.

“We are reminded of the millions of refugees around the globe who are spending this sacred holiday separated from their families, unsure of their future, but still hoping for a brighter tomorrow,” Mr. Obama said in a statement. “And as a nation, we remain committed to welcoming the stranger with empathy and an open heart — from the refugee who flees war-torn lands to the immigrant who leaves home in search of a better life.”

The administration earlier this month reached its goal of accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees fleeing their country’s civil war. Mr. Obama’s quota was opposed by lawmakers in both parties of Congress and many governors, amid concerns over terrorism.

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