A few bad actors shouldn’t mean a death sentence for young kids desperate to flee Syria and as Americans we can’t turn our back on innocent children.
The House is expected to vote on a Syrian Refugee bill that would press pause on the nation’s refugee program for those fleeing Syria and Iraq.
Everyday innocent children are fighting for survival in Syria. The process to enter the United States is about 18 months. It is one thing to take a pause on future cases, but for the young children who have waited patiently on this list they should be admitted.
So far, half of the Syrian refugees that have resettled in the United States are children. The program should continue for youngsters.
Speaker Ryan told reporters this week, "Our nation has always been welcoming….but we cannot let terrorists take advantage of our compassion. This is a moment where it’s better to be safe than sorry. So we think the prudent, the responsible thing, is to take a pause in this particular aspect of this refugee program in order to verify terrorists are not trying to infiltrate the refugee population."
If the reason to delay this program is to protect our Country I don’t see the purpose of not letting kids come. I know from personal experience how testy toddlers can be, but they don’t pose a threat to national security-just our patience.
New Jersey Governor and presidential hopeful Chris Christie went too far this week when he suggested orphans should be locked out for now as well. "The fact is that we need appropriate vetting," he told a radio host, "and I don't think orphans under five are being, you know, should be admitted into the United States at this point. But you know, they have no family here. How are we going to care for these folks?"
I am confused- is this refugee program being scrutinized because one of the Paris bombers was allegedly posing as a Syrian refugee in order to gain entrance into Paris and therefore America should triple check who we let in or is it because we can’t handle orphans? There are plenty of families in this country that can’t have children or are generous enough to take in parentless babies.
Chris Christie is a smart guy who usually makes a lot of sense, but denying orphans under five is almost as crazy as Senator Ted Cruz’s proposal which wouldn’t let in Muslims.
Hopefully Congress today can settle the rhetoric and remember the Syrian kids in line shouldn’t be turned away because of some lunatic in France.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
