AFTER the coordinated terrorist attacks consisting of mass shootings, suicide bombings, and hostage-taking in Paris that killed 130 people and injured 389 on November 13, people all over the world have been debating about the possible security threat posed by the Syrian refugee program being shared by progressive countries in Europe and North America for humanitarian purposes.
A majority of people in the United States and Canada are opposed to the acceptance of any more Syrian refugees who have been displaced because of the ongoing war in Syria. They fear that this program may potentially be used by ISIS, the same extremist group that has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, and other acts of terror in other parts of the world.
This position has been pushed by the Republicans in government, especially by those who are vying for the GOP nomination for the presidency in 2016.
CNN reported that the US House of Representatives passed a measure last week that will effectively pause the processing of Syrian refugees into the country. Such bill insists that no refugee will be admitted without certification by the Department of Homeland Security.
The measure secured enough veto-proof majority votes from Republicans and even House Democrats, despite the White House’s pleas to oppose it.
“It’s a security test, not a religious test. This reflects our values. This reflects our responsibilities. And this is urgent,” Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters at his press conference on Thursday, Nov. 19 prior to House members casting the vote.
Thirty-one governors likewise released statements that they oppose letting refugees into their states.
Pres. Barack Obama defended his position on the issue, and accused those who oppose the Refugee program of political posturing, NBC News reported.
“Slamming the doors in their faces would be a betrayal of our values,” Obama said at the conclusion of the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, adding that Syrian “refugees are the victims of terrorism.”
Obama administration officials have underscored that those seeking asylum in the US undergo rigorous background screenings from several federal agencies and lengthy in-person interviews with Homeland Security officers.
NBC News says so far, none of the terrorists identified in the Paris attack have been Syrian refugees.
Despite the tragedy, French President Francois Hollande declared on Wednesday, Nov. 18 that his country would accept 30,000 Syrian refugees over next two years, a stark contrast to the US position.
In the meantime, kababayans in America share the cautious stand of the Republicans about the issue. In an online poll by The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America”, a big majority of those who voted — 67 percent — say the US should stop letting Syrian refugees into the country for safety and security reasons.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
