Up to 2,000 Syrian refugees pre-approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would start new lives in America in 2013, US officials said late on Wednesday Kelly Gauger, a senior official with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration responded to reporters at a briefing, marking World Refugee Day on June 20 (today), where she explained that DHS has not been able to gain access to Syria since March 2011, when demonstrations leading to the current conflict began. The 2,000 Syrians coming to the US were interviewed in person and adjudicated more than two years ago, but would be subject to further US government screening. As for Iraq refugees, Gauger noted there were also between 30,000-40,000 Iraqi refugees with pending applications. Since 2007, 86,000 Iraqis have been admitted into the US. According to Simon Henshaw, also a senior official with the bureau, 70,000 refugees from around the world will be admitted to the US this year. Refugees considered for resettlement by the US must have already fled their home country, and were referred by UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. The US typically accepts half of all UNHCR referrals. \"The US plays a leading role in responding\" when it comes to humanitarian needs, said Henshaw. \"We pledge our continued help to refugees everywhere.\" Some two million Syrians have become refugees in neighboring countries, namely Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.