We all agree that for legitimate refugees, we should welcome them with open arms. That’s not the issue. The issue is the screening process to determine which refugees are legitimate, and which are ISIS terrorists. We have no way of knowing.
Sorry for the delayed response. Fighting a bug.
Yes, we can know. Please, I beg everyone who thinks there is absolutely no way to be sure, look up what the actual screening process is instead of relying on politicians who have no idea what they are talking about.
Here are the facts: (got this from someone who actually has worked with the refugee process for twenty years)
"First,
you do not get to choose what country you might be resettled into. If you already have family (legal) in a country, that makes it more likely that you will go there to be with family, but other than that it is random. So, you can not simply walk into a refugee camp, show a document, and say, I want to go to America. Instead, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees) works with the local authorities to try to take care of basic needs. Once the person/family is registered to receive basic necessities, they can be processed for resettlement.
Resettlement in the U.S. is a long process and takes many steps. We evaluate refugees on a tiered system with three levels of priority.
First Priority are people who have suffered compelling persecution or for whom no other durable solution exists. These individuals are referred to the United States by UNHCR, or they are identified by the U.S. embassy or a non-governmental organization (NGO).
Second priority are groups of “special concern” to the United States. The Department of State determines these groups, with (name removed by moderator)ut from USCIS, UNHCR, and designated NGOs. At present, we prioritize certain persons from the former Soviet Union, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Iran, Burma, and Bhutan.
Third priority are relatives of refugees (parents, spouses, and unmarried children under 21) who are already settled in the United States may be admitted as refugees. The U.S.-based relative must file an Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) and must be processed by DHS.
Before being allowed to come to the United States, each refugee must undergo an extensive interviewing, screening, and security clearance process conducted by Regional Refugee Coordinators and overseas Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs). Individuals generally must not already be firmly resettled (a legal term of art that would be a separate article). Just because one falls into the three priorities above does not guarantee admission to the United States.
The Immigration laws require that the individuals prove that they have a “well-founded fear,” (another legal term which would be a book.) This fear must be proved regardless of the person’s country, circumstance, or classification in a priority category. **There are multiple interviews and people are challenged on discrepancies. **Refugees are not simply admitted because they have a well founded fear. They still must show that they are not subject to exclusion under Section 212(a) of the INA. These grounds include serious health matters, moral or criminal matters, as well as security issues. In addition, they can be excluded for such things as polygamy, misrepresentation of facts on visa applications, smuggling, or previous deportations. Under some circumstances, the person may be eligible to have the ground waived.
At this point, a refugee can be conditionally accepted for resettlement. Then, the RSC sends a request for assurance of placement to the United States, and the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) works with private voluntary agencies (VOLAG) to determine where the refugee will live. If the refugee does have family in the U.S., efforts will be made to resettle close to that family.
Every person accepted as a refugee for planned admission to the United States is conditional upon passing a medical examination and passing all security checks. Frankly, there is more screening of refugees than ever happens to get on an airplane. Before departing, refugees sign a promissory note to repay the United States for their travel costs. This travel loan is an interest-free loan that refugees begin to pay back six months after arriving in the country.
Once the VOLAG is notified of the travel plans, it must arrange for the reception of refugees at the airport and transportation to their housing at their final destination.
This process from start to finish averages 18 to 24 months, but I have seen it take years.
Finally, the process in Europe is different. I would be much more concerned that terrorists are infiltrating the European system because they are not nearly so extensive and thorough in their process."
Is the process 100% foolproof? No. Nothing is. But the actual risk from terrorists infiltrating through the refugee process is so low, it doesn’t make sense to refuse help to refugees on that basis. Seriously. If ISIS wanted to attack us, all they’d have to do is forge a passport or a student visa, hop on a plane and they’d be here in two days. Why would they bother waiting in a refugee camp for several years on the off-chance they MIGHT be allowed in?
There’s a much higher risk of infiltration through the airlines, and there’s no way to completely vet everyone boarding a plane, and yet I don’t see any conservatives calling for a halt on tourism or international travel. Why not? If safety really is the only concern, at least let’s be consistent.
Look, I get it. I’m scared too. But I can’t get Jesus’ words out of my head. He told us not to fear those who can only kill the body. He told us refusing to help those in need is the same as refusing him. He told us to not be afraid. He told us he will be with us until the end.
Why are we Christians not listening?
