1. Public Message:

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• Keep support for Syrian war victims as a public priority.

  • Refute anti-refugee misinformation, xenophobia, and Islamophobia with factual information.

    • http://www.multifaithalliance.org/myths-and-facts  

  • Reject calls for a religious test to resettle refugees.

  • Condemn federal and state legislative efforts that would prevent resettlement and block funding resources.

  • Encourage factual, positive messaging about refugees and their potential to contribute economically to their communities.

    • http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Syrian-Factsheet-FINALWEB.pdf

• Refute with solid data the underlying premises of federal or state policy approaches that subvert resettlement of Syrian refugees:

  • The premise that accepting refugees will have a negative economic impact.

    • https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2016/12/13/294851/syrian-immigrants-in-the-united-states-a-receiving-community-for-todays-refugees/   

    • http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Syrian-Factsheet-FINALWEB.pdf

    • http://www.oecd.org/turkey/economic-survey-turkey.htm

    • http://data.worldbank.org/?locations=JO-LB

  • The premise that Syrian Muslims are dangerous.

    • http://www.people-press.org/2011/08/30/muslim-americans-no-signs-of-growth-in-alienation-or-support-for-extremism/

    • http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/muslim/

  • The premise that exclusionary policies enhance national security.

    • http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/us-record-shows-refugees-are-not-threat

    • https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/terrorism-immigration-risk-analysis

 

2. Resettlement Obstacles:

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• Expedite increased numbers of refugee arrivals:

  • Resist efforts to reset the refugee ceiling lower than 110,000 in FY 17, an abrogation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Sec. 207.

  • Urge at least 75,000 refugee admissions in FY 18, including at least 20,000 Syrians

  • Fund increases for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to speed security screening without compromising national security.

  • Establish a uniform protocol and standard criteria across agencies.

  • Train and certify NGOs to originate referrals, including in bulk.

  • Prioritize most vulnerable – women and children – and medical workers who can assist underserved populations in the United States.

 

3. Refugee Integration:

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• Move beyond early self-sufficiency model to successful integration model.

• Appropriate necessary funding to expedite refugee integration:

  • To support 5 pillars of successful integration:  housing, work, language, education and trauma treatment.

  • To increase funds for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and to create a separate account specifically for Syrian refugees.

  • To authorize federal funding for 8 months of integration and resettlement benefits to Syrian refugees.

• Revitalize private sponsorship as a supplement to US Refugee Assistance Program and in coordination with accredited resettlement agencies.

  • https://www.refugeerights.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Private-Sponsorship-of-Refugees-in-the-United-States_White-Paper.pdf