A refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. After the attacks on the twin towers in New York city September 11th, 2001, the terms refugee, immigrant, asylum seeker and foreigner have adopted a whole new stigma among many Americans.Unfortunately, in todays world, it is not just the terminology anymore. Any person who resembles a person of Islamic culture or any social group that Americans are not familiar with, fear is sparked within many. Although events have occurred that lead to these negative stigmas, it is important for Americans to reflect on how we would want to be treated in times of need, as well as the fact that all of mankind is capable of both good and evil.

This essay will aim to provide an understanding as to what the true intentions of refugees are. Especially in recent years, regions in the Middle East have been in a state of upset, putting thousands of innocent lives in danger. The current policies that the United States Department of Homeland Security have in place are failing to ensure the safety of other people and their families. Their first priority can, will, and should be the citizens of the United States, but it can also be made possible to gift the freedom our country provides to others even if they were not born here. It is the responsibility of Americans to protect members of other countries regardless of social class, race, religion, and ethnicity who are being faced with persecution and violence within their current homes and neighborhoods. Americans should also feel a sense of pride in the United States due to the many opportunities and rights that are given. To make it a goal to keep these wonders from outside residents is both unfair and illegal.

According to Nolo, a website that posts the most recent laws regarding immigration, one is eligible to seek asylum if they have been persecuted in the past or they have a fear that they will be persecuted if they go back. Iiona Bray defines persecution as "means to harass, punish, injure, oppress, or otherwise cause someone to suffer physical or psychological harm." The other factor that makes someone eligible is that they have to be persecuted for their "race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or their political opinion” (Nolo).

On January 16th of this year, 2017, Joshua Partlow published an article about United States border officials who are illegally turning away asylum seekers. Partlow is The Washington Posts bureau chief in Mexico as well as a security and defense expert. He writes of a man from Guatemala who made an attempt just months ago to seek refugee here in the United States. The man pleas “I am fleeing my country… I am being persecuted in a matter of life and death” (Partlow The Washington Post). He also told border officials that he has already faced two attempts on his life and wants to come here before he faces any more. This man was told that he was to be put on a waiting list to be able to present his case to United States officials. However, he later was refused the right to even be put on the list.

Just before Christmas last year in 2016, a thirty-four year old woman from Honduras approached officials with her six year old daughter. She told them, “I don’t have a visa but I want asylum” (Partlow The Washington Post) because she had been suffering from her abusive husband at home. According to her written declaration she provided to her lawyer, in response she was told, “No, get out of here, and go back to your country” (Partlow The Washington Post). Shortly after when she attempted to plead her case she was told by a different, female border official that she did not want “illegals in her country,” and “to come back if [she] had a visa” (Partlow The Washington Post). After these interactions and being sent back to her home country, the woman was so desperate to seek a safer life for her and her daughter that she swam across the Rio Grande until she was picked up by other U.S. border patrol officers.

It is incidents like these where peoples lives are in danger and Americans are turning them away from a better life that are unjust. Sadly, Kathryn Shepherd who is a lawyer with the American Immigration Council said that “this is happening on a daily basis” (Partlow The Washington Post). Regardless of the denial to allow the Honduran woman, her child, and the Guatemalan man entry into our country and a better life, attacks on United States soil will still occur. Some will even occur because of the poor intentions of Americans themselves. U.S. citizens with good intentions however, possess the power to encourage acceptance of these innocent people who have good reason to flee their home countries in an attempt to enter ours. Our Border Agency whom deals with customs and border issues admits that we are at fault for “systematic denial of entry to asylum seekers” (Partlow The Washington Post) without just reason. 

A spokes person for the DNews podcasts defines what it truly means to be a refugee and the need to seek asylum. He enforces that “refugees, they are forces to leave their country. They have risks of prosecution, refugees have concerns over human rights and safety, they are not usually moving for economic advantage, they are being forced out.” (DNews Youtube). Refugees leave most of their belongings, friends and families behind in their home countries. Some are even forced to flee without warning whatsoever because of experiences with significant trauma and torture. Not only has their lives at home been incredibly rough, their path of travel in order to get to American is usually dangerous. Unlike a migrant, who can prepare their things to leave and seek a job opportunity in another country prior to departure, refugees cannot choose their method of travel like buying a plane ticket. The spokesman reiterates that “the whole point of being a refugee is [that] it was dangerous there, so i’m either leaving because I want to be more safe or i’m leaving because the environment has forced me to do so” (DNews Youtube). 

The path of asylum seekers is forced and unwilling. If their home countries were safe then they would have little reason to leave and seek a new life in the United States. If congress were to create more accepting policies regarding immigrants coming to the United States it would actually advance national security, military, and civic values. In addition to the U.S. border officials illegally turning away people, the judiciary committee has denied multiple proposals over the years to alter our policies.

I acknowledge the fears of many Americans because I myself have experienced them from time to time when I have traveled via airplane. It is true that we do not always know peoples intentions, but I always trust in the procedures set in place to keep air travel safe. Everyone and their possessions go through security, everyone gets their identifications verified, and everyone’s name on their ticket when they board the plane must match the name on their birth certificate. Similarly, many people who seek asylum in our country are being persecuted where they currently reside. Their only intentions are to achieve a better life for themselves, their children, and their families. Any American who has had a frustrating experience in their airport can relate to a feeling of attack when you feel truly innocent. The women and children who are abused and persecuted at home getting denied entry into our country feel attacked too, when their only intentions are to escape the current dangers of their country.

Several amendments to ensure that “all asylum seekers initiate their claims through a non-adversarial process,” were voted against by the Judiciary Committee. This proposal was in response to asylum seekers having to submit an application to the United States and entire year before stepping onto U.S. soil. If someone is being persecuted, or even enduring a lot of financial hardships in their own country, a year continuing to suffer is a long time to hold out. Magner, the author of one article points out that most people who want to come to the U.S. are seeking “protection from organized crime, gang violence, and threats of human trafficking.” Another source that U.S. congress should be more progressive in promoting refugee security and protection. Kerwin, another security expert argues that foreigners have the power to “advance national security by contributing to a states economic vitality, military strength, diplomatic standing, and civic values.” Both of these articles work hand in hand to bring to light the history of immigration laws and how people’s current opinions may not be so rational. is important that the United States play a major role in helping other nations. We are very fortunate to have the resources to do so.  The United States has been able to welcome and settle many refugees in our neighborhoods with few negative repercussions. It is up to Americans to encourage future changes to be more accepting and invite others into our nation.
