Here’s your road to moving to the US as a refugee.
President Trump has suspended entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, and he has barred Syrian refugees indefinitely. The current screening process for all refugees involves many layers of security checks before entry into the country, and Syrians were subject to an additional layer of checks. Sometimes, the process, shown below, takes up to two years.
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Registration with the United Nations.
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Interview with the United Nations.
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Refugee status granted by the United Nations.
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Referral for resettlement in the United States.
The United Nations decides if the person fits the definition of a refugee and whether to refer the person to the United States or to another country for resettlement. Only the most vulnerable are referred, accounting for less than than 1 percent of refugees worldwide. Some people spend years waiting in refugee camps.
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Interview with State Department contractors.
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First background check.
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Higher-level background check for some.
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Another background check.
The refugee’s name is run through law enforcement and intelligence databases for terrorist or criminal history. Some go through a higher-level clearance before they can continue. A third background check was introduced in 2008 for Iraqis but has since been expanded to all refugees ages 14 to 65.
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First fingerprint screening; photo taken.
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Second fingerprint screening.
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Third fingerprint screening.
The refugee’s fingerprints are screened against F.B.I. and Homeland Security databases, which contain watch list information and past immigration encounters, including if the refugee previously applied for a visa at a United States embassy. Fingerprints are also checked against those collected by the Defense Department during operations in Iraq.
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Case reviewed at United States immigration headquarters.
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Some cases referred for additional review.
Syrian applicants must undergo these two additional steps. Each is reviewed by a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services refugee specialist. Cases with “national security indicators” are given to the Homeland Security Department’s fraud detection unit.
- Extensive, in-person interview with Homeland Security officer.
Most of the interviews with Syrians have been done in Jordan and Turkey.
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Homeland Security approval is required.
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Screening for contagious diseases.
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Cultural orientation class.
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Matched with an American resettlement agency.
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Multi-agency security check before leaving for the United States.
Because of the long amount of time between the initial screening and departure, officials conduct a final check before the refugee leaves for the United States.
- Final security check at an American airport.
Source.
If a two-year vetting process (if you’re lucky enough to get that far) isn’t enough vetting, I dunno what is. It’s all fear-mongering scare tactics and propaganda to keep Americans afraid and pliable to the loss of more and more freedoms and rights. The current process has kept America safe for years, and as far as I’m concerned there is no need to expand it at this time.
In a country where you’re more likely to die when your bookshelf falls on you than to a terrorist all these bans serve, whether they’re based on religion or nationality or whatever is to drive wedges between people rather than increase understanding among them.
How can ISIS say Americans hate Muslims when we bring in thousands of Muslims a year for education and employment and a chance at a free and secure life in the first world? But with these bans, ISIS recruiters worldwide are laughing. The Trump administration has played right into the hands of terrorists. If you want a little hyperbole, he may have become one of their greatest recruiters.
Much like my stance on firearms, I would rather take my chances in a free world where we allow people of all races, nationalities, creeds, and religions into our country to make it the best and strongest nation on earth than foster distrust, paranoia, fear, racism, and violence and make my country and the world a scarier, more violent place.
