World Relief has helped settle thousands of refugees in the United States. President Scott Arbeiter talks about the challenges and rewards of accepting more Syrian refugees, following Jennifer Wishon's report.
WASHINGTON – Syrians are continuing to flee their war-torn country, adding to the already massive refugee problem.
This week, a coalition of faith, community and national security groups delivered a message to America's leaders: It's time to take action.
But as more and more Syrians flee civil war, concerns over how and where to care for them grows. It's a moral, political and security issue with no easy solutions.
"I can't forget and I'll never forget that Jesus too was a refugee. He had to go to Egypt, you may recall, and what would have happened if they wouldn't have accepted him?" Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif., asked.
Vargas joined the coalition of groups calling on President Barack Obama and Congress to do more.
They delivered 10,000 signed post cards to Republican leaders asking them to increase humanitarian aid by 30 percent, double the number of refugees the U.S. accepts, and guarantee the right to work and opportunity for education for at least 1 million more refugees.
"This is not just a moral crisis that we face as a country and as a people; it's a political crisis worldwide. Refugees are not a temporary problem. It is a permanent problem. Those of us who think, 'Well, in a couple of years it will be over' – wrong," James Zogby, of the Arab American Institute, warned.
A few weeks ago, America welcomed her 10,000th refugee from Syria, meeting a goal set by Obama. Going forward, the president wants the U.S. to accept 110,000 refugees, including 40,000 from the Middle East and South Asia.
While many Americans are concerned terrorists or radicalized refugees will slip into the country, Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey suggests something else is at play.
"This is homebaked prejudice," he charged. "There's no other way to call it. Let's call it what it is."
Zogby noted, "Europe has to do the same and is not facing that responsibility. The bigotry, right wing nativism, and xenophobia that is sweeping Europe and our own country is a problem not of temprorary duray - it's one we have to confront head on."
Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe of Falls Church, Virginia, agreed.
"As Jews we know what it is to be victims of prejudice and to be excluded, disrespected and targeted because of our religious identity. That gives us a special obligation to stand against these things when they happen to anyone," he said.
As the U.S. prepares to open the door to more than 100,000 additional refugees from around the world, many countries are admitting none or very few refugees from Syria. That includes Muslim countries in the Persian Gulf, like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Next week, Obama joins world leaders at the United Nations where he'll encourage them to step up and help the Syrian people.
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