Bringing Middle Eastern Refugees to America is 'Misguided Compassion' Says Population Stabilization Group
Published on March 24th, 2016
Bringing Middle Eastern Refugees to America is 'Misguided Compassion' Says Population Stabilization Group
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (March 25, 2016) – According to Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS), addressing the needs of refugees closer to their home countries is a common sense approach to the global refugee crisis because it focuses resources and offers the best opportunity for displaced citizens to ultimately return and rebuild their countries.
“Innocent civilians in Syria and other parts of the world are suffering violence and persecution in conflict zones, resulting in mass displacement as people flee these conditions because their home countries cannot guarantee their safety,” said Jo Wideman, executive director of CAPS. “We are seeing unprecedented forced movement that may be greater than 60 million people globally, and this demands a worldwide response that is both humane and smart.
“For instance, resettling a refugee from the Middle East in the U.S. costs 12 times more for a five-year period1 than caring for that person in neighboring countries, according to a study from the Center for Immigration Studies. So financial aid goes further – can help many more who are in desperate need – when it’s applied to supporting refugees closer to their homes,” said Wideman.
This approach also addresses safety and security concerns about large numbers of unvetted refugees, particularly given terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Paris and Brussels. One of the terrorists in the Paris attacks was reported to be holding a Syrian passport.
The United States already is the world’s top resettlement country for refugees. Yet, President Obama has proposed a significant increase in the number of refugees that America accepts.
“Tackling the refugee crisis at its source is a win-win situation,” Wideman said. “It increases our security and enables financial assistance to go further, whether helping refugees abroad or helping poor Americans at home.”
As part of its campaign against misguided compassion, CAPS has produced a short video for viewing at helpmorerefugees.com.
1 On average each Middle Eastern refugee resettled in the U.S. costs taxpayers an estimated $64,370 for the first five years, or $257,481 per household, totals which include processing fees and welfare benefits. Alternatively, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees requested $1,057 annually to care for each Syrian refugee in countries that neighbor Syria. In other words, for the cost to resettle one refugee in the U.S. for five years, 12 refugees could be helped in the Middle East for five years.
About Californians for Population Stabilization
CAPS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization that works to formulate and advance policies and programs designed to stabilize the population of California, the U.S. and the world at levels which will preserve the environment and a good quality of life for all.
Contact:
Joe Guzzardi
805-705-8290
[email protected]
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