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Persuasive Essay On Syrian Refugees

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The US House of Representatives voted last Thursday in favor of a bill suspending Syrian refugee resettlement pending new, stringent screening requirements for US agencies. The bill has gained Congressional support in light of the recent ISIS attack on Paris, and over half of US state governors have vowed to block refugee resettlement in their states. The proposed plan would also halt President Obama’s pledge to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the US. Although Senate Democrats are expected to block passage of the bill, a public debate has developed around whether refugees pose a risk to national security. Lawmakers and the American public should consider the following four points in support of resettlement as they wade through this debate.From a security standpoint, geography affords the US a huge advantage when it comes to vetting refugees, a process it already handles extremely well. The US has resettled nearly 800,000 refugees since September 11, 2001, and only three have been arrested for activities related to terrorism. This is partially due to overhauling in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that dictates the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) refer candidates to the US government after an initial background check; the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies then further screen candidates against counterterrorism databases. Refugees are permitted to live in the US for a year and allowed to apply for a green card, which requires more security

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