I had been looking for something succinct that explained the process of resettlement, which in reality can be rather complicated and in practice is often full of snags. I tend to be long-winded so I wanted to use a source produced by someone else with a gift for simplicity, and recently a friend provided such … More The Refugee Journey to Resettlement: An Infographic
It seems increasingly popular for U.S. legislators to give Orwellian names to bills, names that imply the creation of a law that will ensure our freedoms, while the content of law actually restricts freedom. I assumed that the SAFE Act (recently passed by the House of Representatives) would be similar, giving the impression of increased … More Will the SAFE Act keep us safe? I mean, it has the word “safe” in the title…
I was recently asked by a colleague if I would speak to her daughter’s middle school debate team about the Syrian crisis, as the team was to debate whether or not a country should prioritize humanitarian assistance over national interest. The implication I interpreted from the resolution was that humanitarian assistance (presumably in the form … More The False Dichotomy of Security and Humanitarianism
This entry is a first in a series I am titling “Common Questions.” These will be questions I hear frequently that, while perhaps understandable, reflect the lack of knowledge that people have about refugees, immigration, and migration management broadly. So if you have one of these questions yourself or you hear other people ask them, … More “Why don’t the Muslim countries accept Syrian refugees?”
The short answer is no, and here’s why: As noted in several articles that have recently come out (this one from the NYTimes, and this one from the Detroit news where I’m quoted), refugee resettlement in the United States is managed by the federal government. Specifically, the Department of State determines which refugees will be … More Can State Governors Stop Syrian Resettlement in Their State?
A Place to Call Home 