Speech #1140037224

Mr. President. the United States has long been a safe and welcoming home for those fleeing persecution around the world. The refugees and asylum seekers who join our communities help to create new businesses. build more vibrant neighborhoods. and enrich us all. They are also a reminder of our history as a nation of immigrants and our American values of generosity and compassion. Saturday marks World Refugee Day. and to honor it we must renew our commitment to the ideal of America as a beacon of hope for so many who face human rights abuses abroad. Millions of refugees remain displaced and warehoused in refugee camps in Eastern Africa. Southeast Asia. and other parts of the world. Ongoing political struggles and military conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa are dislocating large populations. Too many are without their families or safe places to find refuge. Some. though far too few. have been able to flee and rebuild their lives. Peter Keny. one of the "Lost Boys" of South Sudan. is one of those inspiring refugees who escaped a civil war in his home country and has rebuilt his life in my home State of Vermont. He is just one of thousands of refugees Vermonters have welcomed over the years. Peter was 19 when he came to Burlington in 2001. and in the years since he has learned English. completed high school. and is earning a college degree. In describing his voyage to the United States and ultimately to Vermont. Peter told "The Burlington Free Press" that arriving here "was like a dream come true." I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the RECORD the article. "A Found Man Returns to South Sudan." I am proud of Vermonts long history of supporting refugees by opening its communities. schools. and homes to those in need. It is not always easy. but it is a powerful example of our belief in the most basic ideals of human dignity and hope. and our commitment to responding to the suffering of others. We are fortunate to have remarkable organizations like the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program leading the effort with its decades of experience and awardwinning volunteer program. and the tremendous legal advocacy provided by the Vermont Immigration and Asylum Advocates. The hard work of these and other organizations and the daily welcoming gestures of Vermonters all over the State have made Vermont a role model for the rest of the country. On this years World Refugee Day. it is also important to acknowledge that there is more that we as a country can and must do. I remain deeply concerned about the administrations expanded family detention policy. The women and children it is placing in prolonged detention have fled extreme violence and persecution in Central America.