By Brett LinleyCONTRIBUTOR
The tragic terrorist attack carried out by ISIS in Paris has exacerbated the issue of not only the civil war in Syria, but also the refugee crisis stemming from it. Thousands of families are being displaced from their homes due to the violence in the region. This has raised the question of what role, if any, the United States should play in managing these refugees.
While there are risks involved and precautions that must be taken, the only humane option is for the United States to take a dominant role in assisting these refugees. These are people being driven out of their homes by Islamic terror; they are not coming here to conduct it. To turn these refugees away is not only a dark stain on our nation’s fabric, but it is also, essentially, a death sentence.
The biggest source of resistance to such measures stems from the fear that ISIS is going to sneak through with these refugees and orchestrate another terror attack. It is important to note that those who perpetrated the attack in Paris were European nationals and did not enter through the flow of refugees. This all being said, it is understandable to exercise caution against those flowing in from a region that is currently a hotbed for terrorism.
Such fear cannot be justly used to shut out refugees. Refugees face an intense screening process and it is unlikely that terrorists would be able to slip through the cracks. The irony here is that most conservatives who swear by the efficiency and effectiveness of the national security state are suddenly rallying against letting refugees in on the grounds of government incompetence. The end result of both arguments is the violation of civil liberties and human rights.
It is true that the refugee crisis will not stop until events in the Middle East are addressed. However, there’s no telling how long the fight with ISIS could take to resolve itself. In which time thousands of rejected refugees could be subjected to oppression or death.
If we truly are the leader of global affairs, then we must step forward as the shining beacon of liberty and open our doors. If we truly are an international force for good, the title should speak for itself.
Brett Linley is the President of the Hofstra Students for Liberty.
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