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How the US’s Role in Syria Contributes to the Refugee Crisis

The fickle nature of public opinion, and some elements of the press, can be seen even more clearly when we contrast their reaction last week to the news that, in the last full year for which we have figures, almost 700,000 people from overseas were allowed to settle in the UK.

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A Lebanese official warned British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday that the Islamic State is sending trained fighters posing as Syrian refugees to attack Western targets.

While the USA has provided the most financial assistance to alleviate the Syrian refugee crisis, it hasn’t done enough in terms of resettlement, according to Jennifer Sime, the vice president for US programs at the global Rescue Committee (IRC). Most are in camps in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan waiting for the world to act.

It’s hard to see why refugees from one country should be singled out.

President Obama at first was not completely on board with the idea of helping the Syrians since Europe had been doing most of the handling.

The letter sent by Refugee Council US says that while the organization believes “the vast majority” of European countries have the capacity to handle refugees seeking safety, the U.S. “must show solidarity with its close allies in Europe“.

“This is something that we should do, and something that we can do”, Annie Wilson, chief strategy officer of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, told HuffPost.

‘The truth is that just 400 kilometres from Sicily there is an incredibly cruel terrorist group. And in Latin America, where several countries have large Syrian communities, the leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay, Mexico, Uruguay and Chile have said that they will offer visas to Syrian refugees.

He was speaking at a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, after touring the sprawling Zaatari refugee camp, which is home to more than 80,000 Syrians. Once in the country, refugees can freely travel or relocate.

As turmoil in Syria continues to drive away at its citizens, many are pushing to increase the number of refugees from the region that the United States accepts.

Turkey’s ambassador to the European Union , Selim Yenel, told EUobserver that one million more people could arrive in Europe, should the conflict in Syria worsen.

Asked if ISIS could be sending militants under the guise of being refugees, Saab responded: “Yes, they bring some people, the smugglers”.

“There is an enormous number who could decide to come to Europe”, he said.

“There are very few who have family or friends in the USA already“, Haney said.

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A robust USA commitment to the resettlement of Syrian refugees would encourage other reluctant nations, especially those in Europe, to accept more and to keep their doors open until this horrific conflict can be ended. But federal officials have yet to contact the state of Delaware over the potential placement of refugees in Delaware, Bachman said. Refugees that have spent months – years in some cases – moving from location to location are now looking for permanence in their lives after the heartbreak of leaving everything behind in search of protection. Britain has agreed to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees from camps over the next five years.

How the US's Role in Syria Contributes to the Refugee Crisis