The Pros and Cons of allowing Syrian refugees into the United States
Several catastrophic events have happened around the world in 2015 leading into 2016. The civil war in Syria and terrorist attacks in Paris are one of the most talked about and the most devastating events that happened. Syrians are fleeing their country as refugees trying to make a new home anywhere they can.They have already ventured from Syria to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Europe, and now the United States Figure 1(Corps, Mercy (2016, January 01). Many countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and Europe are accepting of the Syrians; however, with the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and many threats and terrorist groups already having enormous hatred for the United
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Just like Europe politicians, the Obama administration reassured all Americans that accepting Syrian refugees would not jeopardize national security(Chibarirwe, A.). With this reassurance they are completely disregarding the warnings given to us from counter terrorism and terrorist experts(Chibarirwe, A.). On NBC’s Meet the Press that was aired on November 15 the White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said,”We have very extensive screening procedures for all Syrian refugees who have come to the United States. There is a very careful vetting process that includes our intelligence community, our National Counterterrorism Center, the Department of Homeland Security, so we can make sure that we are carefully screening anybody that comes to the United States”(Chibarirwe, A.). What Ben Rhodes said sounds like a magnificent idea; however, we do not live in a perfect world. The White house did not factor in that most of the refugees end up staying after their escape from war torn Syria (Richard, A. C. (2014, January 07) and that a Syrian passport was found near one of the assailants in the Paris terror attacks showing that a Syrian refugee was apart of the Paris attacks (Welsh, T. (2015, November 20).
Another issue there is with Syrians trying enter the United States is, “Thirty-one states, which is more than half the nation's governors, say they oppose letting Syrian refugees into their states, although the final say on this contentious immigration issue will fall to the federal government” Figure 2 (Syrian refugees not welcome in 31 U.S.
Significance: This issue is huge around the entire world with Syrians going to most countries in Europe and North America.
Thirty-one states are not welcoming refugees, seven are welcoming refugees, and twelve are not making a commitment to either side. Governors cannot legally deny entry to refugees but they can make it extremely difficult to gain access. Michigan governor Rick Snyder stated the following ‘It’s also important to remember that these attacks are the effects of extremists and do not reflect the peaceful ways of Middle Eastern descent here and around the world.’ (CNN). Mister Snyder does not welcome refugees to his state because the safety of his citizens is his number one priority but he does not want people to look down on refugees. American citizens do not want refugees in their communities. This is a prime example of xenophobia and could lead to backlash, discrimination, and violence directed towards refugees. Refugees would be targeted and become victims of hate
Empathy is not always easy to achieve. Currently as a nation we are debating whether or not we should allow the Syrian refugees into our country. After the attack on Paris and the ISIS threat against America next, it is easy to see why Americans would not want to let Syrian refugees into our country. It is a difficult decision to make, especially since most of the refugees are women and children. These refugees are trying to escape the terrors and wars that are going on in their home country. However, United States officials must remain cautious with who we are letting into our country at this time. Many citizens are nervous to let so many people into our country. The challenge that the United States officials face is if we
Syrian refugees who are in desperate need of emotional, physical, mental support will feel disrespected and betrayed from not only their own country but America as well, which will lead to irrational actions. Maybe even joining terrorist groups to get back at America. In the past year there has only been four ISIS attacks in the United States. Most would agree the number would increase if Refugees are allowed into the States. On the other hand, some agree the numbers will increase if the refugees aren’t allowed in America, refugees will build hatred and eventually want to put that pain on America for denying them to enter the States. Although the United States has the option to deny Syrian refugees, the States has already increased the screening process for those incoming. Security has expanded and is being trained to their top performance if a security guard feel as though a refugee is sketchy they have to right to deny the incoming
Over the past decade, the controversial topic of Asylum seekers seeking refuge in Australia has been a core topic of debate. We as Australians should be allowing these asylum seekers into our country as they are not undertaking any illegal practises, yet seeking a new home for protection. They have the ability to enhance our cultural diversity and we as a rich cultured country have the ability to help and protect them. How would you like to be welcomed into a new country if you were fleeing from persecution?
Refugee Resettlement is a collaborative process between countries, international organizations and non governmental organizations (NGOs) that give refugees the chance to start a new life in a stable country. (Miliband, 2016) The UNHRC is the international body that serves as a gateway to resettlement while receiving nations maintain their own security, vetting and resettlement processes. No country is legally obliged to resettle refugees, therefore there are only a limited number of countries that offer refugee resettlement and between these countries, there is significant variation in resettlement policies. (UNHCR, 2016) Resettlement requires collaboration and investments at an early stage (establishing infrastructure, processes and relationships
The United Nations made a conservative estimation that 850,000 refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and a number of other nations in Africa and the Middle East will have made their way to Europe by the end of 2016 . Secretary of State John Kerry has stated that the influx of refugee arrivals from countries such as Syria and Iraq could be tapered by ending the Syrian Civil War . However, steps need to be taken to mitigate the current refugee crisis facing the European Union (EU). The EU has hitherto been unable to find a rapid and succinct solution to the crisis due to porous Mediterranean borders and disagreement over policy solutions . Therefore, the United States (US) should offer its support by utilizing its expansive immigrant integration
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government is using a secret national security screening program to vet certain incoming refugees, including those from Syria, according to an administration document obtained by BuzzFeed News.
While Syrian refugees are often labeled as terrorists, they are actually the opposite. Through research, - Lauren Gambino, Patrick Kingsley, and Alberto Nardelli - three writers from an English Newspaper, “The Guardian”, have found interesting results. They admit, “Syrian refugees are generally afraid of exactly the same thing that Americans are: Islamist terrorism” (Gambino 3). Considering that the Syrians are seeking an escape from the same exact thing that Americans are, why have they not been accepted into America? Like many of the 70,000 refugees who are accepted into the United States every year, Syrian refugees search for shelter from wars and hope of a prosperous future (Welsh 1). Teresa Welsh, a writer for the “U.S. News and World Report”, describes in her article “Why the U.S. Can’t Resettle Syrian Refugees” that “the U.S. should be doing more to help resettle those fleeing conflict and repressive governments in the Middle East and Asia” (Welsh 1). The Syrians desire escape from a repressive government with no chance of rebuilding a better future; therefore, they seek support from outside countries, like the United States and other European
Europe is facing one of the greatest influx of migrants and refugees in history. Hundreds of thousands of people have risked their lives fleeing the Middle East and Africa, pushed by civil war and terror. Among the forces driving approximately four million Syrian refugees into partaking the massive 2015 migration, conflicts raging in Syria and Afghanistan, and human right issues in Eritrea make up the majority of reasons. 62 percent of people who have reached Europe by boat are from those three countries. People are also setting out from Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kosovo, Iraqi, Iran, Somalia, and other countries, pulled by the premise of a better life in Germany, France, or the UK. The International Organization for Migration estimates
The Web. The Web. 20 Jan 2014. Europe Failing Syrian Refugees. Global Issues.
Imagine you’re a refugee of Vietnam on a boat to Taiwan, it’s too cramped and you’re not allowed of the deck because of an immense threat of bombing. You stayed of the boat for three to four weeks with daily food rations of 2 clumps of rice and 2 cans of water. Finally your boat gets to the port in Taiwan From there you choose whether you want to go to America, Canada, or Paris. You choose a country, the volunteer now says you have to wait until someone from that county adopts your family. It could take weeks or perhaps even months. Ha’s experiences as a refugee mirror real refugees because she is moving far, she has to adapt to a new government, and she has to learn a new language.
Initially, Texas has filed a suit against the placement of Syrian refugees, more recently it has requested the U.S 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss said suit. It seems as though the only people disappointed with this decision are Texas state officials, as refugees are welcomed by state residents. It’s as if the Texas population has become so diverse that people in state office are unable to represent their ideals. Officials remain rigid in their republican ideology, making it difficult for them to meet the demands of the more party flexible population. Perhaps party identification is losing some of the intense significance it once held.
The ill-treatment asylum seekers receive and it has been an increasing political issue in recent political years. Asylum seekers who come by boat or planes suffer several disadvantages and have been rough handed. Asylum seekers come from countries that are in crisis/war who also make the process of getting travel documents impossible for them.
Extremist terrorist groups like ISIS, have risen up and caused a wave of fear and mistrust over the world. Desperately trying to escape their war-torn country, Syrian people try to cross the dangerous Mediterranean Sea, in hope to reach safety. A recently, it had been reported that over 500 Syrian refugees have died trying to cross the sea. Countries were lending aid to the Syrian refugees such as the UN, Turkey, and the United States. Everything changed after the Paris Terrorist Attack in 2015. It became known that some terrorists were disguising themselves as refugees in order to gain access to the country. The United States panicked about its refugee policies, fearing domestic safety. However, the Syrian Refugee issue is in fact a crisis. By February 2016, the U.S had resettled 2,819 Syrians, which has risen from 90 admitted in 2013, in addition to 4.5 billion dollars in aid. Following the Paris tragedy, at least 27 state governors stated their refusal to accept refugees or questioned the admission process. The US State Department has confirmed that the country will accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. This was met with some backlash from modern day Restrictionists, the conservatives. While helping people who are threatened by terrorism is a moral obligation, the issue was complicated by terrorists hiding as refugees. Because of this, it sparked hysteria and xenophobia in the United States against