The Refugee Controversy

A refugee is a person who was forced to leave their country. Whether it be from warfare or natural disaster, their homes are no longer safe to live in, so they need to relocate elsewhere. Once someone sets foot on the journey of becoming a refugee, they become vulnerable and dependent with no sense of what the future will bring. In an attempt to accommodate them, first world countries with the resources necessary to assist these refugees, are struggling to determine whether or not they should step-in and help. Some argue that taking them in could come with excessive consequences, while others believe they could be assets. Although there may be a few consequences, they are outweighed by the benefits and undeniable severity of the situation.

The first immigrants to the United States were European Quakers that came over on The Mayflower with a quest for freedom from the restraints of Great Britain and the Catholic Church. They were seeking freedom from oppression and the opportunity to build a better life. These people - by definition - are immigrants or refugees. We are all essentially foreigners in the United States, but some of us claim this land as our own - more so than others - and feel that people are intruding upon our “Americanized” country. This phenomenon has turned into a full-fledged political debate that has been coined as a “Refugee Crisis” or “Immigration Issue”. This is not just in the United States. Many European countries are dealing with the same issues and their refugees are seeking asylum from the torturous acts of ISIS. The history of immigration, the difference between immigrants and refugees, how immigration and refugees can be viewed as a social issue, and specific refugee and immigration conflicts and resolutions are all important factors of deciding how The Immigration Issue and Refugee Crisis are categorized as a social issue.

Over 300,000 refugees are waiting at the borders of our country waiting to be accepted into our country. My question is why. Why would our great country want to weaken ourselves by letting illnesses and terrorism into our country, especially when they did not help us in the past? The United States should not accept refugees because of many reasons including terrorism, stealing jobs from U.S citizens and bringing sickness and unknown illnesses into our country. Hundreds and hundreds of terrorist attacks have occurred in our country the only blameable menace are us letting in refugees in. Thousands of refugees are working immediately, and illnesses are spreading to Americans in our country as soon as these refugees enter our country. Knowing all of these issues is it really worth letting them in?

This world has its flaws. There are wars, displaced people, poverty, etc. Therefore, nations are required to help those in need and attempt to find solutions. From what has been debated around the world, it seems that despite all the risks, prosperous European and North American countries have a moral responsibility to allow refugees to seek asylum in their countries. It is the duty of first world countries to help war-torn and disaster struck area victims, as it is a benefit for them in the greater picture. Denying refugees this privilege causes jihadi terrorist groups to become that much stronger. Moreover, a country that allows in these refugees can be subject to further flourishing socially and economically.

Others believe that we cause it ourselves by not allowing illegal aliens to freely join a country, and the liberties that are endowed with citizenship. Yet while both are true, natural disasters are the leading cause in the past 5 years of refugee displacement. A perspective on the leading issue of refugees from the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management Authority “European policies have also failed to produce stability on Europe’s southern periphery, and in the case of Libya, where the collapse of sovereignty has facilitated the trafficking in refugees and economic migrants, Europe is chiefly responsible”. Although many of the problems emanate from the U.S. intrusions in the middle east, the reason for the refugee’s not being able to find safe homes, is due to the negligence of the European authorities. Even though they say that NATO is finding a way to welcome the refugees into camps, and find homes. Though while most refugees themselves try to find their own new homes for a permanent solution, they are bogged down by oppressive governments and societies that shun them as homeowners. Ages of death and destruction have racked this earth. Millions of homes destroyed, while more than half of the world turns a blind eye to

Baumgartner et al., also argue that the death penalty policies are extremely vulnerable to public opinions. Throughout their book, they frequently mention how small changes in perceptions and attitudes can lead to drastic changes in actions and behaviours. Because the death penalty can be one of the issues that behave as a deal breaker in presidential or political campaigns, politicians are careful to make a stance that does not agree with the public.

Displacement and migration have defined Europe for centuries. Today, millions of Syrians have been displaced due to the threat of war. The critical issue for Europe is not the violence in Syria, but rather the hundreds of thousands of people pleading for asylum. Many Europeans view this migration as an invasion. This anti-immigrant mentality is further perpetuated by the fear of refugees disrupting the European economy as well as an over saturation of the Islamic faith in primarily Christian nations. If the mindset of Europeans fails to change, refugees will continue to face death and despair as they look for alternate ways of getting to the continent. In order to resolve this crisis and dissolve the impractical fear of refugees, the history

The estimated number of refugees since World War II is one hundred million ("Refugee”). Supporting and solving today’s refugee crisis is especially controversial because of the current events, financing, and security issues. A refugee is a person who has left their country because of fear of their safety due to violence, race, religion, or war ("Refugee Facts”). Climate change and natural disasters sometimes cause people to leave their homes or countries. Some examples of these natural disasters are floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and mudslides. These do not qualify as a reason to be a refuge ("Refugees"). Refugees leave their country and move to another country and ask for asylum which provides protection and assistance as a confirmed refugee.

In ‘Refugees Who Could Be Us’ Nicholas Kristof (2015) is an article published in the New York Times that discusses the deficiency of leading world countries in response the on-going Refugee influx that Europe is facing. First, the author explains the ineffective strategies carried out by world leaders in order to stop the on-going Syrian war and stresses on the lack of attention given to the Syrian War. Second, he demonstrates the Xenophobia that is common in European and Arabic citizens has made the stigmatization of refugees easier; consequently, many of the refugees were not accepted into Europe and their trips to safety became much harder. Third, Kristof argues that the most reasonable solution would be to create a safe-zone back in Refugees’

The United Nations High Commission on Refugees estimates that almost three million people were categorized as refugees at the end of 2014, which is equivalent to almost three percent of the world’s population1. The 1951 Refugee Convention provides that a refugee is a person, who, “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted...is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or … is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country”.2 There is a mounting pressure for the world, particularly European and Middle Eastern countries, which are being inundated with refugees, to find a solution to the refugee crisis. In this search, the question has arisen of whether a country should prioritize the humanitarian needs

Since 2011, Syria has been engaged in a Civil War with protestors against the government and members of the extremist group ISIS, and approximately 7.6 million people have been displaced from their homes (usnews.com 2015). As the conflict destroys more homes and livelihoods each year, an increasing number of civilians have been forced to leave Syria and try to find safety elsewhere. Already a contentious issue, the Syrian refugee crisis has awakened tensions, both economic and social as debate erupts over what to do with the refugees.In response to the crisis, while some countries like Germany have pledged to help the refugees, (New Statesman 2015 1) only 2,340 have been admitted. Clearly, more needs to be done in order to help the refugees. Although there are economic and population concerns to be considered, the humanitarian conflict that faces the refugees and solutions already available are reason enough for Europe to increase the numbers of Syrian refugees allowed in.

Rough seas and overcrowded boats await travelers who have already made long journeys on foot. Some of these travelers choose to bypass a sea crossing and continue on land - trekking through rough terrain and hostile environments. These are the options of an escaping refugee. However, their journey does not end once they reach European soil. They might have physically made it, but there is a long road ahead to gain citizenship and acceptance in their new homes. The huge influx of refugees from Northern Africa and the Middle East trying to relocate to Europe is a historical movement and it is causing unprepared for consequences. This final paper will explore the conflicts that arise when there is such a large flow of culturally diverse

The European refugee crisis began in 2015, when a rising number of refugees and migrants made the journey to the European Union (EU) to seek asylum. Refugees are people who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. According to the data that was shown in Business Standard and also confirmed by BBC News, the top ten nations which account for 90% of the sea arrivals in 2015 were: Syria (49%), Afghanistan (21%), Iraq (8%), Eritrea (4%), Pakistan, Nigeria and Somalia (2 %), Sudan, Gambia and Mali (1%). Also the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirms that the top three nationalities of refugees are Syrian, Afghan and Iraqi. Of the refugees and migrants arriving in Europe by sea in 2015, 58% were men, 17% women and 25% children. (Wright, 2015). According to Eurostat, EU member states received over 1.2 million first time asylum applications in 2015, 4 countries (Germany, Hungary, Sweden, and Austria) received around two-thirds, while Latvia received a very small part of them.

Before delving into specific issues regarding the European Union and their response to the refugee crisis, it is important to note the varying definitions of what a refugee is. In 1951, the UN drafted a document known as “The Status of Refugees,” which attempted to define who is a refugee and what protections they are to be afforded. The UN document roughly defined a refugee as an individual escaping persecution from race, religion or membership of social or political group. Individuals who fit the criteria are internationally considered refugees and may make claims for asylum, which the receiving country must consider. However, the European Union has further built on the definition of a refugee from the United Nations. European Council directive 2004/83/AC specifies that EU member nations must consider specific circumstances. Specific circumstances include the nature of persecution and as such results in a reduced ability to deny a refugee claim from past actions (e.g. past criminal acts). Therefore, for the purpose of this paper, a refugee will be considered by the European Union definition as such. Given the multinational nature of the EU, the very definition of a refugee has been a major force in the disproportionate impact of the crisis thus far. Nonetheless, the EU definition of a refugee is legally binding for member nations.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in December, "The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking place. The world cannot just say 'look, it is not our problem'”. However, the massive amount of refugees is problematic for the host countries and for the refugees themselves. Bangladesh has started putting a ban on refugees entering. Refugees live in squalor and camps set up in the middle of nowhere with makeshift roofs and floors. People are sick and injured and starving. This life of a refugee, that some of us may conjure up an image, is not the same as reality. As Hannah Ardent wrote, the term refugee is used all wrong. These are not people who were flushed out because they were political radicals. These were people discriminated against, people who were traumatized and battered. They are immigrants, seeking refuge. When so many of us hear