Obama’s Refugee Policy

Introduction

The increasing number of refugees has become a global issue. Most countries are facing a major surge in the number of refugees seeking protection. The Syrian crisis has contributed immensely to the ever-increasing number of refugees, and this is likely to continue if nothing is done to prevent further deterioration of the crisis. The United state has also been a host to a good number of refugees. President Barrack Obama has expressed his gratitude to most Americans for the generosity and willingness to host more refugees. Some even seeking to host the refugees in their homestead and he feels that this is what America stands for. However, the recent Paris attack calls for the Americans to be an extra vigil to ensure that similar attacks do not occur in the American soil (“An Overview Of U.S. Refugee Law And Policy | Immigration Policy Center” 2016). The president assures the Americans that there has been subjecting all refugees entering the country to an intensive security check, and this will continue going forward. The increasing cases of terror attacks call for proactive measures to ensure the safety of refugees and that of the host is not compromised.

Analysis

America has been a host for refugees for several years. However, the increasing cases of terrorism, especially the Paris attack, have lead to many people questioning the US refugees’ policy. Some politicians have suggested that the country should not host Muslim refugees to ensure that the country is free from terror attacks. Others have suggested that America should not host any refugees from Syria and other war-torn countries to ensure the interests of Americans are safeguarded. Nevertheless, President Obama is pleased with the majority of Americans who support the idea of providing a safe place for refugees (Duss 2016). He is particularly happy with the Americans who offer to host refugees in their homes. The president acknowledges that Americans should ensure they are compassionate to others to make America a great country.

It is prudent to note that though the president intends to support the idea of hosting more refugees in the country, he is also concerned with the security of the hosts. The government of the United States has been conducting thorough security checks along its borders to ensure that the refugees are not a threat to national security. President Obama reassures the citizens that this will continue now and in future to make sure that America is not vulnerable to terror attacks and at the same time offer a safe place for troubled families (Bon Tempo 2009). America has been receiving refugees over the years from different parts of the world. In fact, over 3 million refugees have built new homes in almost all the States of America, and the president insists on the importance of continued compassion and generosity among the Americans.

It would be unfair to the government of America to discriminate the refugees on religious lines. The people and the government of United States have the responsibility for ensuring they provide safe living place for all refugees despite their race, religion or nationality provided they are in dire need. The Paris attacks should not be a source of fear for the Americans to helping solve the ever-increasing refugee crisis (“An Overview Of U.S. Refugee Law And Policy | Immigration Policy Center” 2016). Most of the countries neighboring Syria are already overstretched by the number of refugees fleeing their country as a result of the ISIS activities in the country. It is, therefore, prudent that the Americans be part of the countries offering humanitarian assistance to victims of war and terror.

Politicians are suggesting that the United States should not host Muslim refugees are jeopardizing the war on terror. Although the president acknowledges that internal security is a legitimate concern, it is also worth noting that offering humanitarian assistance to the needy forms the American culture. The country has hosted refugees from all over the world including the Middle East. All these refugees have peacefully co-existed with the locals and no single incident of terrorism or any other crime has been reported. It would be unwise to classify all the Muslims as terrorists since some of them are peaceful people (Küpper 2010). It is worth noting that America over the years built a strong culture where every refugee can feel safe. However, this does not imply that all the refugees should simply be allowed in the country without placing the necessary security measures. President Obama reaffirms that all the refugees must undergo an intensive vetting process to ensure that only deserving cases of refugees get admission in the country. The United States have proper security agencies put in place to ensure that the screening and vetting process of the refugees are done in the best way possible (“An Overview Of U.S. Refugee Law And Policy | Immigration Policy Center” 2016). It is worth concluding that these institutions have not failed in the past and hence it is possible that this will continue.

Opponents of the proposal of the US government hosting Syrian refugees asserts that the government will spend a substantial  amount of money in this exercise thus denying the American citizens the right to be served with their taxes.  They term it as an expensive exercise that would ‘’eat’’ into public coffers and deny Americans essential facilities such as roads and health facilities. However, this is not the case. The amount spent on refugees in America is quite an insignificant portion of the national budget. The cost is also likely to decline further since most members of the public are willing to offer their houses to homes for these refugees. They will cater for their accommodation and upkeep hence saving the government some substantial amount of money (Bon Tempo 2009). Also, most of these refugees have also been actively involved in economic activities and consequently resulted in them making a contribution to the economy’s GDP. It is, therefore, wise for the American government to embrace more refugees in the country and give them a conducive environment to allow economic development.

Also, the Paris attack should serve as a reason the Americans should embrace more refugees in the country. The war on terror is a global war and amerce should be part of the solution. The only way to curb terror activities is by ensuring that these extremist groups are deprived of funds. Another reason the government of United States should not fear accepting the refugees is the fact that not taking the refugees may even be a significant threat to national security. The recent terrorist attacks in Paris should be a good example of the effects of insecurity in other countries. According to security experts, radicalization and terrorism can increase as a result of filthy and unsafe refugee camps as they offer a good ground for extremism. It is worth to note that terrorists will find it easy recruiting fighters from squalid and hopeless refugee camps and, as a result, the global terrorism will thrive. The more these Syrian refugees are left to suffer and languish in despair, the more prone they become to radicalization. It is, therefore, prudent for the government of United States to take the extraordinary step of hosting this number of refugees to enhance global peace and stability.

Also, accepting refugees will be a big blow to the ISIS extremist group. It is prudent to note that this group depends on extortion and taxes collected from the vast swaths of territory they control. It is alleged that kidnapping for ransoms, extortion and taxation from these territories accounted for over $620 million in 2014 which is higher than the amount from stealing and other criminal activities (Duss 2016). It would, therefore, be paramount for peace-loving states like the United States to take part in the noble exercise of denying finances to such extremist groups. Handling these refugees in safe camps will keep the extremists at bay. Lack of finances will cripple their operations and terrorism activities and consequently lead to global peace and stability. It is for this reason that the group is determined to stop refugee process because it forms one of their sources of income through taxes and extortion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is prudent that Obama administration should be proactive in hosting refugees from the areas adversely affected by the ISIS brutality. The war on terrorism is a global war, and it is wise for the Obama administration to take a leading role in fighting the vice. Most of these people are already in search of better and safe lives, and America should be in a position to give them this opportunity. Refugees deserve compassion, and it is great to note that Americans are the right people to offer this compassion (Duss 2016). In essence, offering refugee assistance would not only be essential in upholding American values but would also be consistent with the US policy.

 

Bibliography

“An Overview Of U.S. Refugee Law And Policy | Immigration Policy Center”. 2016. Immigrationpolicy.Org. http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/refugees-fact-sheet.

Bon Tempo, Carl Joseph. 2009. Americans At The Gate: The United States And Refugees During The Cold War. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Duss, Matthew. 2016. “The Argument Over Who Gets To Come To America Is Personal For Me”. Slate Magazine. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/11/syrian_refugees_in_america_the_argument_is_personal_for_my_family.html.

Küpper, Stefan. 2010. U.S. Refugee And Foreign Policy From The 1930S To 1945. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH.

 
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