Refugee Debate Gains Heat

Syrian+refugee+Rua+Sahalli%2C+12%2C+from+Idlib%2C+Syria%2C+weaves+a+carpet+at+a+workshop+inside+the+Oncupinar+camp+at+the+border+crossing+with+Syria%2C+near+the+town+of+Kilis+in+southeastern+Turkey%2C+Monday%2C+June+20%2C+2016.+The+U.N.+refugee+agency%2C+marking+World+Refugee+Day+on+Monday%2C+says+persecution+and+conflict+in+places+like+Syria+and+Afghanistan+have+raised+the+total+number+of+refugees+and+internally+displaced+people+worldwide+to+a+record+65.3+million+by+the+end+of+2015.+%28AP+Photo%2FEmrah+Gurel%29%0A

Syrian refugee Rua Sahalli, 12, from Idlib, Syria, weaves a carpet at a workshop inside the Oncupinar camp at the border crossing with Syria, near the town of Kilis in southeastern Turkey, Monday, June 20, 2016. The U.N. refugee agency, marking World Refugee Day on Monday, says persecution and conflict in places like Syria and Afghanistan have raised the total number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide to a record 65.3 million by the end of 2015. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Adeena Syed, Reporter

As the war in Syria rages on another war heats up here in the United States.

Recently there has been a great deal of debate over whether or not the United States should allow entry to Syrian refugees. With terrorism currently being a major threat, many fear that allowing refugees in will only make it easier for the terrorists to come in as well.

When President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning travel to or from seven Muslim countries, he also banned immigration and refugees. Many of the people who had been waiting to be allowed in were forced to return to the countries that they had left and wait for another chance to enter the US.

The ban has attracted criticism from several political figures. Philadelphia Representative Charlie Dent, a Republican, has spoken out against the executive order.

According to Dent, while it is important to for U.S policy to protect Americans, it is also important to “protect innocent and vulnerable people abroad.”

Another Philadelphia representative, Brian Fitzpatrick, echoed Dent’s statement, telling Philly.com he feels Trump’s order is “completely off the mark.”

“The reality is, terrorism inspired by radicalism and hate is global in scope and, as such, requires a comprehensive response, not a purely regional focus. While serious actions are needed to protect our country, these must not be done in a way that singles out any specific nations or ethnicities,” Fitzpatrick said.

For the people who don’t feel that refugees should be allowed in, their arguments are based mostly in their fear of terrorism. Many of them say that they feel that by allowing in refugees, they are making it easier for terrorists to come in as well.

According to what White House spokeswoman AshLee Strong told the Chicago Tribune, “This is not a test, and it is not a ban on people of any religion.”

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan also spoke with the Tribune, saying that while he does not agree with the ban itself, he does feel that there is a need for increased vetting standards.

In addition, Ben Sasse has stated that he agrees with Trump’s efforts to secure the country’s borders and that it is important to connect “jihadi terrorism” with Islam and certain countries Sasse also says he feels that the ban itself is “too broad.”

Sasse further stated that he feels that if the government sends a message to the Middle East saying that the United States sees all Muslims as terrorists, it will make it easier for extremist groups to recruit kids by telling them that America is against their religion.

However, out of 292 Republican members of Congress, only 42 of them (including Dent, Fitzpatrick and Sasse) have actually spoken out about the ban. The other 144 have remained silent-including Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey.

While Toomey has remained silent, Senator Bob Casey has not. On his website, Casey has issued a statement saying that the executive order “is contrary to our values and security”.

The Republicans aren’t the only ones opposed to allowing refugees in, there some Democrats who feel the same way. According to Politico, New Hampshire governor Maggie Hassan has urged the federal government to stop allowing refugees into the country until the process is reviewed.

However, the Democrats that are reluctant to allow refugees in have been criticized by those in their own party.

Senator Martin Heinrich says that he is “very disappointed in a number of my colleagues and that’s irrespective of party.”

In the end, it seems that as conditions in Syria grow worse and worse, the United States becomes more and more divided on how to deal with it.