The Importance of Helping Refugees

 

I recently saw a social media post decrying money spent on refugees in the United States. As a fiscal conservative, I am concerned about the national debt and the burden it places on future Americans.

Nevertheless, I disagree with the posted remarks. Here’s why.

1. We have a legal obligation.

Sometimes the United States' actions overseas cause the displacement of people, which can lead to their refugee status. The Council on Foreign Relations provides a detailed overview of the U.S. Refugee System and its history. The U.S. government has a legal obligation to accept refugees based on the 1951 Refugee Convention and its own domestic law.

2. We have a moral obligation of indebtedness to those who help us.

According to the Costs of War Project, the US post-9/11 wars have displaced at least 38 million people in and from eight countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Libya, and Syria. Many of these displaced persons have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries, including the US. Some of these refugees have gone on to serve in the US military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

It is important to note that refugees are not just victims of war, but also active participants in it. They have contributed to the US military in various ways, including as interpreters, intelligence analysts, and cultural advisors. In fact, many of these refugees have risked their lives to help the US military, and some have even died in the line of duty.

3. We have an obligation to ourselves. Trust is a two-way concept.

If we refuse to help those who help us then to whom shall we turn in the future? When it comes to war overseas, we can only expect help from locals who have a reason to trust us that we will protect them.

References

How Does the U.S. Refugee System Work? - Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-refugee-system-work-trump-biden-afghanistan.

Refugees & Health | Costs of War. https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/human/refugees.

 

 Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

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