U.S. to resume Iraqi refugee program after fraud investigation

FILE PHOTO: U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price gestures at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S. February 28, 2022. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

The United States said on Tuesday it has reopened a refugee program for Iraqis that was placed on hold for more than a year during an investigation into fraud.

Officials will resume processing applications that were suspended during the probe and accepting new petitions for resettlement as part of the Iraqi "Direct Access" refugee program, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State.