Syrians Seek Refuge in United States

By Gabrielle Redfield, Assistant Editor in Chief

St. Louis has a long history of refugee settlement. According to the International Institute of St. Louis, through its field office and members, more than 1 million are provided resettlement services right here each year. Since anti-government demonstrations and a civil war has caused 220,000 deaths in Syria, many Syrians are fleeing the country to find a better life and St. Louis could be one place that they resettle.
“In the St. Louis area itself, there has been some rallies, and we’ve had good success with that in the past,” said history teacher Jeff Kinney.
Syrian refugees have chosen to leave their country because homes are bombed and family members are killed by the war. ISIS and several other groups are fighting in the country and civilians are in the middle of it. They feel like they have no chance of survival or nothing left in their own country. So they travel far away so they can have a safer place to live.
“The Syrian refugee crisis is what the pope came to talk to the joined Congress about when he came and spoke to the United States,” said senior Xavier Phillips.
During September, Pope Francis spoke to the House of Representatives and the Senate. According to the Huffington Post’s article ‘Do Unto Others:’ Pope Francis Calls for Action” by John Dear, Pope Francis said, “Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated.”
He encouraged the United States and Europe to take in refugees in other countries. According to Kinney, the United States has agreed to take in 10,000 refugees.
“It has proven to be a great benefit economically and socially to our area,” said Kinney.
In the past, St. Louis has taken in Bosnian refugees and helped them re-establish their new lives here.
“This group of people who came to St. Louis assimilated quickly, became part of our community, [and] we have Bosnian restaurants now and they have done a tremendous amount of good. I see the Syrians potentially following that same model,” said Kinney
Kinney says that the refugees coming here can be a good thing, but some may disagree and think that this is going to impact us negatively.
“Some countries are letting them [the Syrian refugees] in, and some are not when they’re trying to run from ISIS,” said ESOL teacher Tricia Frank.
The concern is that new refugees can impact the economy because money is needed to help these people. At first, refugees may not have basic needs, a job, or the ability to understand a new language and culture. On the other hand, new refugees can enhance the city’s economy in the long run and help it for the better once they are settled.
“I see them coming from a difficult situation – motivated to work [and] motivated to help their friends and family,” said Kinney.
According to the Los Angeles Times article, “Obama administration: U.S. is prepared to take in Syrian refugees” by Marcus E. Howard, the United States has had a tradition of granting asylum for those who want to come over and seek a better life. Officials from the State Department, Department of Health and Services, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration services have said that funds will be secure to help those in need.
“The declaration of human rights says that everyone deserves a nationality [and] a home,” said Phillips.
The North community here can help the Syrian refugees who may come to school that immigrated here. Some of the things that the North community can do is make the students who come from Syria feel welcome. Students can give items they don’t need because many of the students don’t have anything but a few items of clothing. Also, students can help them feel welcome by including them in school activities and lunch.
“Teachers would be welcoming to students [who are here seeking refuge], and hopefully as a building, students [here at North] would help them gather the information they need,” said Frank.