Admitting Syrian refugees into the US – Intro to International Relations

Considering the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, the bombings in Kenya, and the general sense of fear that has overcome our society, it is not surprising that House Speaker Paul Ryan has called for a “pause” in admitting Syrian refugees into the United States. The fact of the matter is that ISIS already has an overwhelming global presence, and it remains uncertain whether or not they have infiltrated the immense group of Syrians seeking safety and freedom.

It is undeniable that the United States is a nation made up of immigrants. At one point or another, the majority of all your families immigrated into the United States seeking all of the opportunities it has historically had to offer. This is what defines us, and has molded us to become what we are today. I agree with Mr. Ryan in the sense that, “our nation has always been welcoming, but we cannot let terrorist take advantage of our compassion.” Moreover, I believe that this issue amounts to something that is greater than politics, and is a matter that bleeds into national security. I don’t think that we should totally dismiss the idea of bringing in Syrian refugees, but I believe it is vital to hinder the process until a bill is passed that establishes a secure method to eliminating the possibility of any threats entering our country.

Currently, it is obvious that the United States prioritizes the safety and security of the American people, but as an acting world power, “[the United States] can’t completely abandon innocent Syrian civilians in need. America must do its share to find safe haven for the millions of children and adults who have none at present time.” With this in mind, what can the United States do to expedite the process while guaranteeing the safety and security of its civilians? It takes time, and sometimes a lot of time, to get a bill passed, but with the safety of millions of innocent people rapidly diminishing, it is imperative that we do our part efficiently and in a timely manner. But how are we to proceed to bring in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in a timely manner, when we risk bringing in terrorists as well? Is saving the lives of many refugees worth the risk of losing the lives of many Americans?

Source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-speaker-ryan-calls-for-pause-in-admitting-syrian-refugees-1447778816

Madeline Wittich says:

November 19, 2015 at 2:55 pm

Danilo – this video relates to your blog topic and offers an interesting perspective.

http://qpolitical.com/someone-said-muslims-bad-woman-delivers-amazing-response/

Victoria Noles says:

November 19, 2015 at 3:43 pm

Nice post, Danilo. I respect your opinion and admire your determination to maintain national security. I definitely agree that there need to be some security measures applied to the entrance of Syrian refugees, however, I don’t know that this is feasible in a respectful manner. Any type of religious test would be counter to America’s core beliefs in the freedom of speech and expression, and refugees lack adequate documentation to prove that they have no links to ISIS or extremist groups. Terrorism could come from anywhere, the incident in Paris demonstrated this when we consider that the majority of the attackers were citizens of France or Belgium. I don’t think that we can prohibit a population of people from safety and freedom, or even justify slowing the process enough for legislation to pass particular entry protocol. Like you said, Congress is slow, and tensions run high about this matter. A life is a life, and I would argue that the right of a Syrian refugee to safety and freedom is equivalent to the right of an American citizen to safety and freedom. We have an obligation to our fellow citizens of the world to protect and care for them in times of crisis. As a nation we have committed to accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees, a tiny amount when you consider our vast GDP and population size. Other nations have done their part, now we must take a risk and do ours.

Danilo Dauhajre says:

November 30, 2015 at 6:34 pm

I agree with you Victoria, in the sense that a life is a life and that as a nation we have to do our part to help out the Syrian refugees, but I genuinely believe that at this time it is imperative that we hold back for the time being. Im not sure for how long, but during my time at home in NYC, I noticed a few things that came across as shocking. Over the weekend I went to a New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden, and I have never seen so many military trucks and soldiers in bullet proof vests patrolling the streets of the place I call home. Granted I felt a bit safer, but I was also reminded of the potential risk I could have been in considering the threats made to the city of New York several days prior to my stay. Obviously, we are going to have to let them in at one point or another, but is it wrong for me to question our safety when all I see are armed soldiers and NYPD as every corner I cross? Considering how successful ISIS has been at recruiting, it becomes hard for me to justify the fact that they have not infiltrated or attempted to recruit members of the Syrian refugees. There is no doubt in my mind that the US needs to do their part in bringing people in, for as Obama said, we should not fear three year old orphans, but what about those who are older and are more prone to falling into the hands of ISIS? Maybe im wrong, and very one sided, but the last thing I want to see in the news is another tragedy, even though terrorism can come from many different angles.