As a result of horrific terrorist attacks in Paris. France and Beirut. Lebanon last week. many elected officials in the United States are demanding that we stop admitting refugees fleeing Syria or place strict restrictions upon their entrance. This rhetoric is disheartening and disappointing. We are facing a global refugee crisis that requires a global response. With 60 million people displaced. the United States must do its part to help protect and resettle vulnerable families and children who are fleeing violence and persecution. While we must continue to ensure that screening procedures are able to properly vet those seeking political asylum in this country. I refuse to turn my back on innocent people who are fleeing the atrocities in their homeland. H.R. 4038 places unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles in front of Syrian and Iraqi refugees without any demonstrated public safety benefit and would result in completely unjustified discrimination based on nationality. origin. and religion. This is not only wrong. it is not American. H.R. 4038 also wrongly attacks vulnerable refugees who are fleeing the same dangerous attacks that we fear so much here on American soil. While I do believe that we must remain vigilant in our safety precautions. we cannot close our doors and our minds to the children and families seeking protection. shelter. and safety. In Dallas. we have always shown our compassion to those who seek safety. I refuse to slam the door on a small fraction of the worlds Syrian refugees. In fact. 184 Syrian refugees have already been placed in Texas with more than 1.500 across the nation and we will certainly welcome more. We cannot turn our backs on those who fall victim to war. aggression. and tenor. Instead. we must show compassion by promoting peace and diplomacy.
Keywords matched
refugees refugee