Cuts to refugee program put lives in danger
It has been a challenging year watching the program that saved my life being taken apart bit by bit. Even as 25.4 million refugees are in need of protection around the world — the highest number in recorded history — U.S. resettlement has plummeted to all-time lows following the administration’s historically low refugee admissions goal for fiscal year 2018 of 45,000. Recently, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the administration’s intention to further slash the admissions goal by 40 percent, to 30,000 or less.
I know that because of this reduction, there are countless more lives that will be hurt. Families like mine will remain apart, possibly forever. Mothers separated from their sons, fathers separated from their daughters. Some innocent people may not survive the wait at all.
When I think of the tens of thousands of refugees who will continue to live in fear because of the administration’s dismantling of the resettlement program, I am reminded of one of the most powerful teachings of the Jewish and Islamic faiths: “He who saves the life of one man saves the world entire." Indeed, by this measure the United States refugee resettlement program has saved the world entire countless times. But now that lifesaving legacy is in jeopardy.
The fiscal year ended last week, and we know that the administration resettled fewer than half of the refugees it promised to, breaking its promise to tens of thousands of refugees waiting for a chance to rebuild their lives or reunite with family members in safety.
Resettlement is reserved only for the most vulnerable refugees who cannot return to their homes and do not have safety in the places where they have fled.
Despite the fact that refugees already face the most rigorous security vetting and medical screening process of any traveler to the United States, the administration has continued to take actions to keep the resettlement numbers dismally low — imposing a series of refugee bans that have separated families, abandoned refugees in unsafe situations and jeopardized our nationalsecurity and foreign-policy goals.
Further cuts to the refugee-resettlement program will put more lives in danger and devastate the kind people of Columbus, Ohio, who stand ready with open arms to welcome more refugee families.
Refugees like me are contributing to our communities and our local economies. Because of resettlement, today I am able to continue with my life, education at Columbus State Community College and my children are able to go to school and become future contributors to our American community.
Study after study shows that refugees and immigrants create new businesses and new jobs. Even a study by this administration found that refugees have made a net contribution of $63 billion to government revenue over the last decade — a report that White House officials tried to suppress.
Welcoming the persecuted is a fundamental American value and the backbone of our nation’s history.
This country was founded on the hard work, determination and skills of generations of immigrants from all countries, religions and backgrounds. We must continue to be a beacon of hope.
While it is all but certain that Congress will sign off on the cuts to the refugee program that will put countless lives in danger, I believe our fight is not over. When you survive violent persecution and are given a chance at life in a new country, you learn to never give up.
President Trump can reverse these immoral cuts with the stroke of a pen if he believes it is expedient to do so. It is up to us to make our voices so loud that he can’t help but hear the communities and congregations across this great nation that have their arms open for the vulnerable.