The White House says the United States on Monday will meet President Barack Obama's goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees during the current fiscal year.

Obama directed a sixfold increase in the number of Syrian refugees provided safe haven into the United States.

After a slow start, the administration was able to hit the goal about a month early and just a few weeks before Obama convenes a summit on refugees during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

National Security Adviser Susan Rice says Obama understood the important message that expanding Syrian refugee admissions would send, not just to the Syrian people but to the broader international community. Millions have been forced to flee Syria to escape the country's civil war and persecution.