Durbin: U.S. Can Do More For Syrian Refugees

(CBS) – Chicago area activists are urging President Obama to let in more Syrian refugees.

CBS 2's Audrina Bigos reports.

"We are seeing the worst refugee crisis of our time enfolding in front of us," says Melineh Kano, executive director of RefugeeOne.

The organization has helped refugees fight language barriers and find jobs, for 33 years.

Now, the focus is on Syrian refugees like Fatima. She came to Chicago with her family seven months ago.

The U.S. is on pace to take in 1,500 Syrian refugees by the end of the month. President Obama just announced that will increase to at least 10,000 in the next fiscal year.

"We can do better," agrees U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat.

Advocates say the U.S. must follow other countries like Germany, which is accepting 800,000 Syrian refugees.

"I bring this up on the 14th anniversary of 9/11," Durbin says. "Every one of these refugees goes through a very strict and complete vetting. We make certain, at best you can do humanly possible, that they will be no threat to the United States."

Durbin's counterpart, Republican Mark Kirk, could not be reached for comment Friday.