I want to start this post by saying that many of my friends and family stand on the opposite side of this issue. I also want to say that this post is not to bash President Trump or his administration. This post is also not intended to be political in nature, however, it will be in the light of the events that I am addressing. Most people will accuse me of being a liberal or being a part of the protests of the President. That is not the case. Ask me how I voted. I write this post in order to share my heart…to inform the misinformed…to encourage you to think beyond yourself.
Misinformation
I have seen many post a variety of arguments for or against the Executive Order that Donald Trump has signed regarding refugees. I try to read as many as possible including those that go against my view. I have seen many people post an article saying that there have been numerous high profile terrorist attacks by refugees in the United States. That claim is 100% false and any news coming from that source should be thrown out. President Trump along with many false news sources have created fear in the American people regarding refugees. There have been zero terrorist attacks by a refugee since the beginning of the U.S. refugee program. Everyone seems to think that it is easy to get in the United States as a refugee and that refugees are terrorists. To get into the United States as a refugee is by far the hardest process by which to get in the U.S. and the strictest refugee vetting system in the world. I encourage you to get your facts from reputable sources instead of what you see President Trump or Facebook say. Reach out to your local refugee resettlement agency and ask them hard questions. They would love for you to talk to them about it. If you aren’t sure who you should talk to, I have listed resources at the bottom including refugee resettlement agency links.
Do You Know a Refugee?
Many who argue for or against this Executive Order have never met a refugee. I personally have. In the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, we have a numerous amount of refugees. I have spent time getting to know and welcoming these wonderful people. Let me tell you about one:
We will call him Aaron to protect his identity and to make it easy for you to read his name. Aaron owned a barber shop in Iraq before the United States got involved in the conflict in his country. He had learned English through watching American television and practicing with other Iraqi’s. Once the Americans came to Iraq, Aaron was hired as a translator for the American military. Many of his family members and friends opposed him and ostracized him and his wife and kids from the community. They wanted nothing to do with him if he were to turn his back on his people by helping our military. Aaron would receive death threats and had his home bombed, but he still helped the U.S. because he believed in what we stood for and knew the persecution that would come if the terror groups took over. Fast forward a few years. The U.S. mostly pulled out of Iraq and left Aaron and his family there. The persecution greatly increased and he applied with the military to come to the U.S. Aaron is a special type of refugee since he assisted the U.S. military. He does not have to go through the United Nations refugee program. He only has to go through the U.S. vetting process. Even after skipping the UN program, it took Aaron a 18 months to finally be admitted to the United States. He, his wife, and his three kids now call Texas home. He struggled to find a job and become a part of the American culture. He lives in a small, older, two bedroom apartment. People look at Aaron as if he is a terrorist. They look at him with fear. He told me that when he takes his kids to the park other parents will pull their children away from his just because he is an Iraqi.
The refugees I have met are sweet, loving people desiring a better life for their family away from persecution, war, and suffering. Isn’t that what we would all want, too?
If you live in an area near where refugees are resettled, I encourage you to go meet them. Show them that you care about the life of hurting human being. It will truly change how you see the refugee crisis.
A Safe America
The argument of many of my friends is “Don’t you want a safe America?” Absolutely. I want to live in a safe country. I want my wife and future children to be safe. However more than I desire safety, I desire to love my neighbor and to be the hands and feet of Christ. Jesus did not call us to a life a safety, but rather radical love. I’m not saying get rid of the vetting process or not improve it. I am saying that we shouldn’t close our doors to those in need. The vetting process can be improved without closing our doors for even a day. I would argue to close our doors for a few days IF a terrorist would have made it through our vetting process and we need to pause and reset. Our vetting process is working and it should be obvious since we haven’t had a terrorist attack by a refugee. The United States is in a unique situation…refugees from the Middle East cannot get in our country unless we allow them. They cannot walk here and they cannot get in a raft and make it here. The U.S. will never see the flooding of un-vetted refugees like Europe has. Many people use what we see in Europe as a defense for keeping refugees out. Let me just say that there is a HUGE body of water between our country and where the refugees are. That eliminates that as an argument.
More Than Just Abortion
I’m sure many of you read that title and asked, “What does abortion have to do with refugees?” Many of you that read this have the same stance on abortion that I do. We stand against it. I believe however, that every life is valuable. The one in the womb, the child in foster care, the refugee, you and me. I believe that we should care for them, especially as Christians. We aren’t called to love only those that look, talk, and walk like us. We aren’t called to love only those from our home country. We are called to love them all to the ends of the earth. I urge you to evaluate your heart and see if you only stand for the issues of your political party or what your mom and dad told you to believe in…or do you stand with the heart of Christ? Do you stand with the vulnerable? Do you stand with the broken? Do you stand with the hurting?
Final Thoughts
I know that it is very unlikely that I will change anyone’s opinion. I am just so heartbroken by those who actively post against people of other countries, especially those fleeing persecution. We are no better than anyone else just because we are an American. I pray that we will stop thinking so highly of ourselves and will humble ourselves to help those in desperate need. Please please educate yourself on the matter before you lash out for or against this issue. I urge you to meet a refugee and to hear their story.
You are welcome to comment below and share your heart. Please be respectful of all when you comment.
RESOURCES:
Vetting Process:
United States State Department — https://www.state.gov/j/prm/ra/admissions/
TIME Article — http://time.com/4116619/syrian-refugees-screening-process/
Resettlement Agencies:
World Relief — A Christian Resettlement Agency
Find Resettlement Agencies in your state. Click Here.
Articles
CBS’s “60 Minutes” Story (Please note this video was on the show “60 Minutes.” It is not 60 minutes long)
Ed Stetzer’s “Evangelicals, we cannot let alternative facts drive U.S. refugee policy”
Preemptive Love’s “Five Point Article”
Russel Moore’s Letter to President Trump.
Forefront Experience’s “My Refugee Response”
Additional Resources
Ethan S. Reed 