Profanity was heard, and at least one case of vandalism – graffiti – was reported.
Advertisement
In a stinging rebuke to President Obama by Republicans as well as members of his own party, the House ignored a veto threat Thursday and overwhelmingly approved Republican legislation erecting fresh hurdles for Syrian and Iraqi refugees trying to enter the United States.
The letter said that applicants for refugee admission “are screened more carefully than any other type of traveler to the United States”. “In addition to everything Syrians have gone through, I think something common among all of us is this deep and persistent feeling of loss of faith in humanity because of everything that has been going on”.
Gov. Peter Shumlin has said Vermont would welcome refugees, a stance which has drawn fire. We have a long history of accepting refugees and people fleeing oppression and violence, but we also have an obligation to protect the American people.
Clearly, our nation and state are divided.
Kind said he was flooded this week with calls, primarily from constituents wanting to take every precaution possible against Islamic State fighters, who are vying for control of Syria and Iraq among other countries and have been tied to the Paris terror attacks.
The Obama administration has expressed confidence in the country’s refugee process.
So how are we protected? It would oblige the heads of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Department and the director of national intelligence to certify to Congress that each refugee “is not a threat to the security of the United States”. So could those facing persecution due to their race, nationality, political opinions or associations with social groups. That includes lengthy interviews conducted by specially trained staff. None can be waived, as in a few countries. He’s right. The US absorbed waves of refugees from Cuba in the 1950s and 1960s, and from Southeast Asia in the 1970s; each of these populations has since contributed immensely to our country.
A new poll from The Washington Post and ABC News shows that a majority of Americans oppose resettling Syrian refugees in the United States.
The reasons for this are that most Syrian refugees have no documentation, the USA has no information on them and there’s no way to consult their records in Syria.
We also should assume ISIS is coaching potential terrorists on how to pass the interview screening process. The US government pays travel costs, but refugees sign a reimbursement agreement.
Mr. Obama didn’t refer to any Republicans by name, but said he was responding to “very specific” proposals to allow Christian Syrian refugees into the US but not Muslims.
As Canada prepares to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees, the country is broiling with debates over when, how many, and how fast. The lengthy security process coupled with the high legal standard makes it unlikely that a terrorist would use the refugee program as a tool to enter and cause danger to the United States.
The fingerprints of one of the attackers in Paris were found to match those of a Syrian refugee who passed through Greece in October, and that attacker left behind a Syrian passport authorities believe to be faked.
But Lavinia Limon, president and CEO of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigration, has the Associated Press that under the Refugee Act of 1980, governors can not legally block refugees.
Advertisement
We live in risky times. And it’s not just because of the xenophobic politicians or hysterical news reports.
