President Barack Obama took the opportunity this Thanksgiving to appeal to Americans’ generosity in welcoming Syrian refugees.
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The president then stated: “What makes America America is that we offer that chance”.
“We turn Lady Liberty’s light to the world, and widen our circle of concern to say that all God’s children are worthy of our compassion and care”, he added. The figure has been criticised by refugee activists who point out that countries such as France and Germany are settling far greater numbers. The governors of 31 states, all but one Republicans, have blocked any Syrian refugees from entering their states. Along with governors across the country, I have deep concerns about the Obama Administrations plan to accept 10,000 or more Syrian refugees, especially given that one of the Paris attackers was reportedly a Syrian refugee…. The Senate has been considering the House bill and Obama has said its passage there would prompt him to try to use his veto.
The letter reassured states, as President Obama has been trying to do nearly daily, that refugees are subject to a thorough screening process before they enter the country. He has said all refugees are thoroughly vetted before being brought to this country.
“Accordingly, states may not categorically deny ORR-funded benefits and services to Syrian refugees”, ORR Director Robert Carey wrote in the letter.
The commission will continue to follow the directive of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has called for Texas not to participate in the resettlement of Syrian refugees, said Bryan Black, a spokesman for the Texas commission. “But it’s also a day to count our blessings and give back to others – a reminder that no matter our circumstances, all of us have something to be grateful for”, he said. Every time we get a new population of refugees coming into the United States, we change it a little so that it’s better for that population. And on Capitol Hill, legislators have moved on anti-refugee legislation, with the Republican-controlled House passing a measure to impose more stringent security screening on refugees from Syria and Iraq.
“It’s hypocritical for Obama Administration officials to threaten enforcement action against these states when they refuse to enforce the vast majority of our immigration laws, such as cracking down on sanctuary cities that openly defy federal law and endanger the American people”, he continued. Syrians have not been a part of North Dakota’s refugee resettlement program in the past.
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America should be a haven for this wave of Syrian refugees as it has for other recent groups, like the Vietnamese.
