More Christ-Like

Many in the USA know about the abundance of refugees in the world today and wonder why the U.S. is not doing any more than it is regarding taking in these people.  I wondered the same thing myself; consequently, I did some research on the problem.  First, some facts are in order.

• ·       There are over 15 million refugees in the world today.  Most of those people receive some kind of help in the country to which they fled; then go back to their home country.
• ·       Refugees are still in the resettlement process who had first become refugees in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
• ·       Those at highest risk of torture, human trafficking, unaccompanied children, or those fleeing communist regimes (expressly provided by law) comprise less than 1 percent of the total number, and are resettled in a third country.
• ·       The United States takes in half of all those in point #2 above.
• ·       The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) determines if a person qualifies as a refugee and sets up a plan for either return to the country of origin, settlement in the country to which they fled, or settlement into a third country.
• ·       Before a refugee is admitted to the USA, they go through a rigorous screening process , including in-person interviews, security screens, health screening, and ability to provide for his/her own needs once resettled, among other things.
• ·       Of the 9 resettlement agencies in the USA who are recognized by the US State Department, six are faith-based.  They are Jewish, Catholic, non-denominational (2), Episcopal, and Lutheran.  The other three are secular in nature.
• ·       Refugees must pay back the cost of transport to the U.S. out of earnings from the job they obtain after their arrival.
• ·       The U.S. provides support to the refugee agencies to help with expenses of food, clothing, agency expenses, etc.  It also provides connections with jobs and job services, health care, etc.
• ·       About 190 communities, including Wichita, are designated as “Preferred Communicites” and receive extra funding through the refugee program because they receive higher risk families or more than the normal number of refugees.
• ·       It usually takes 1 ½ to 2 years to resettle a refugee from the time of the initial U.N. referral.

I don’t know what you think about the refugee situation and how the USA is handling the intake of refugees.  But this process is long, involved, and in some respects tedious.  Not everyone who flees a country does so for noble reasons.  And not everyone who flees a country is able to withstand the rigors of being resettled in a foreign culture, learn a foreign language, and assimilate into a foreign society.

It is also imperative to understand that the U.S. does not determine whether a person is a refugee or not.  That decision is made by an agency of the United Nations.  The U.S. and other countries work with those already certified as refugees to get them relocated and assimilated into society, whether back to their home country, the country they fled to, or a third nation.

I am satisfied, after research that included visiting with a worker with the Episcopal Migration Ministries here in Wichita that we are doing a good job of refugee resettlement in this nation.  And I am pleased that 2/3 of the refugee resettlement agencies are faith-based.

Could we do more?  Yes.  We need more individuals to step up to mentor refugees the first few months of resettlement.  We need more agencies and individuals to provide housing opportunities, job opportunities, furnishings, etc. for these folks.  We need more cities and communities to step up to accept refugees.

Instead of complaining about how the U.S.A. is ignoring the refugee situation and not helping, maybe we instead should contact Episcopal Migration Ministries in Wichita, or one of the other agencies, to find out what we can do to help.  Maybe we can volunteer to mentor a refugee family.  Maybe we can provide a bed, refrigerator, or a month of utilities for a new family until they get on their feet.  Maybe we can educate ourselves on the issue and find something productive to do instead of complain about what isn’t being done.

That would be more Christ-like, now, wouldn’t it.