[Vision2020] Refugees and immigrants are people, too

[Moscow Cares]

Courtesy of today's (February 16, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with special thanks to Nick Gier.

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His View: Refugees and immigrants are people, too

By Nick Gier

The Declaration of Independence promises "inalienable rights" of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." These are universal human rights regardless of citizenship, race, ethnicity or religion. These apply to those who live here as well as those just coming to our shores.

The rights of refugees are guaranteed by the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, of which the U.S. is a signatory. People qualify when there is a "well-founded fear of being persecuted." Article 3 states the Convention "shall apply to refugees without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin." In both words and deeds, the Trump administration has violated international law.

Refugees are thoroughly investigated for 18 to 24 months before they can enter the U.S.

At a recent League of Women Voters presentation, University of Idaho Professor Kristin Haltinner reported that "in 2010 the incarceration rate for non-native born people in the U.S. was 1.6 percent and for native born Americans it was 3.3 percent."

About 785,000 refugees have come to the U. S. since the 9/11 attacks, and only three have been arrested for suspected terrorist activity. None of these people were - contrary to Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway's fake story about a "Bowling Green Massacre" - able to execute their plans.

Even though he admits it is discriminatory, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has agreed with President Donald Trump that Christian refugees should be given priority over Muslims, action proscribed by the U.N. Refugee Convention.

Trump of course was wrong that the U.S. has admitted Muslims but not Christians. Since 2002, according to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. has admitted 399,677 Christian refugees as opposed to 279,339 Muslim refugees.

Trump's claim that Germany is now "crime riddled," because it has accepted over a million refugees is false. Federal crime reports show refugees commit common crimes at the same rate as native Germans.

The 567,000 Syrians in Germany have committed crimes at a lower rate than those from Tunisia and Morocco. Of these, only nine have been arrested for suspected terrorist activities. Last July, Syrian refugee Jaber Albakr, on the run from federal police, was caught and held by other Syrians until authorities could arrest him.

There have been only three terrorist attacks in Germany. In December a Tunisian immigrant killed 12 people when he drove a stolen truck into Berlin's Christmas market. Last July a Pakistani injured five on a train near Würzburg. Also in July, a Syrian refugee blew himself up, injuring 15 people, at a concert in Ansbach.

Canada has laid out the red carpet for 39,000 Syrian refugees. In December 2015 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met the first plane load of Syrians, giving them winter coats and promising them permanent residence. Soon after Trump announced an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, Trudeau tweeted that Canada would be happy to accept them, instead.

World Relief Spokane has had a superb record in settling refugees in that area. Director Mark Kadel reports that all the people they accepted have found jobs within six months. Kadel states that "nationally, refugees spend the least amount of time on any public assistance than any other group of people."

The refugee center in Twin Falls has come under criticism, and the City Council has defended itself against unfounded rumors of refugee crimes. Employers in the region are happy to have them as workers, many in jobs that natives don't want. Furthermore, more than 200 new businesses in southern Idaho have been started by refugees.

Jen Heller, who volunteers on projects all over the world, recently worked alongside refugees from Bhutan outside Boise.

She admired their work ethic and wrote: "These people are so beautiful, it makes my heart swell. They are now Idahoans, and they are home."

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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