Florida leads states for refugee resettlement

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Federal government statistics show Florida draws more refugees than any other state.

Since 2013, a total of 43,184 refugees resettled in Florida, a number that dwarfs second-place California, which had 16,714.

Cubans represented the largest number of refugees in the state, with 2,177 last year, but others came from across the Caribbean and the Americas, as well as the Middle East and Africa.

Refugees are defined as people forced to flee their home country because of persecution or fear of persecution.

The Tampa Tribune reports about 70,000 refugees are admitted across the United States each year.

Information from: The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, http://www.tampatrib.com

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