To be a Refugee is to Live a Suspended Life Indefinitely

I have worked with refugees for four years. It might not be long, but I learned a lot about resiliency, optimism, hope and what really matters in life. One of the refugees that I had the privilege of working with had lived in a refugee camp for over 22 years. He would wake up everyday hoping for good news, praying this would be the day he would hear of being resettled somewhere in the world. Hours turn into days and days into years, just waiting and waiting ..and waiting  and waiting some more to start his life. For the millions of refugees across the globe, their goals, plans, dreams; everything is put on hold. Boredom takes over, the days are long and the nights even worse.

This client of mine was blessed with two babies while living his temporary life at the refugee camp. As if life wasn't hard enough already, his wife died. Now, he had two children that he must take care of, love, make them laugh and be strong for. After going through years of extreme vetting, he was finally coming to America to start his life anew.

I am sure you can imagine his joy, because for the first time in over 20 years, he was sure he was going somewhere to establish some stability and daily routine. Enjoy the luxury of having a permanent mailing address, where he could receive letters, a key to a room, his own space to be alone, to reflect, mourn his loses and yes be grateful for his blessings.

Imagine for a moment trading places with this refugee and his children, finally arriving at an American airport and being told you are not welcomed here? The same country that vetted you for years and granted you the opportunity to come and be part of its family? It is a rape in broad daylight of whatever dignity one might have had left as a human being.

The US has been the favorite destination for millions around the world. Sure many come for the economic opportunities, but above all else, people wish to immigrate to the US to live in peace and breathe freedom. It is the mindset that, in America, we are free to think, speak and be as we please that makes this country so desirable.

It is the belief that, once you become a citizen of the US, we are all equals. Because, the color of our skin, the god we pray to or the origins of our roots were never the measures of our American pride. It's the idea that, we all play a role in perfecting this unfinished project that we call America by always mending and amending its flaws.

It is our faith in our rule of law to be just, and the freedom to aspire to be whatever we wish that makes us Americans. People don't come here to steal anyone's job. In fact, often times, it's actually the brightest, most educated, imaginative and most resilient who manage to find ways to arrive in America "land of the free".

It is unAmerican to grant the the most vulnerable an opportunity to be part of our family to only deny them upon arrival. That is not my America and it should not be yours. Resist the hate. It had served no one.

#PoliticsMatters

#RefugeesWelcome


~ Daniel