We are the most interconnected generation of any in human history. Our social networks reach well beyond our town or city, and now include the most culturally and linguistically diverse communities the world has ever known.
Gradually, here in New Hampshire we are seeing diversity in our neighborhoods and this reflects our nation’s diversity. Foods from Europe, Central America, Africa and Asia have become common. The languages that we hear around us and the cultures people celebrate each day add beauty to our state.
Wednesday, June 20, is World Refugee Day to commemorate the courage and resiliency of refugees and the positive impact they have in our communities. It is an opportunity for us to recognize hardships that refugees have gone through to create new lives.
The United States is a beacon of hope for so many who are escaping violence, persecution and war and a longtime leader in protecting and resettling refugees. We have a legacy of rescuing refugees from many parts of the world to help them restart their lives and regain hope here in the United States. Sealing our borders, denying entry to certain groups of people and dismantling the U.S. refugee resettlement program is counterproductive to our values and principles of honoring refugees’ courage in overcoming adversity, and denies us the many gifts that refugees bring to our communities.
It takes a village to promote policies that help refugees rebuild their lives in the United States.
Worldwide, there are currently 65.6 million people forcibly displaced, 22.5 million refugees and 10 million stateless people. Each day 28,300 people are forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. These people are mostly taking refuge in already struggling developing countries, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
A report from the N.H. Center for Public Policy Studies found that the Granite State currently has approximately 75,000 foreign-born residents among the state’s 1.3 million residents. Refugees from more than 30 nations call New Hampshire their new home. There are 4,253 new immigrant business owners in New Hampshire who contribute a total net business income of $252 million. Some people assume that refugees receive free money from the United Nations or the U.S. federal government, but the truth is that upon arrival, refugees get jobs, pay taxes, become part of the community and quickly gain self-sufficiency.
The world is increasingly becoming a global village, yet international conflicts and forcible displacement of people creates a damaging ripple effect on societies and economies everywhere. Though human problems are complex, they can be solved if we have the courage, willingness and creativity. Fortunately, this is what motivates both refugees and hosting communities.
Through our positive actions, refugees get the support they need to recover from trauma and renew their lives.
Why should we care about refugees? First of all, the United States needs to continue its role as a global leader in humanitarian response. With current conflicts and terrorism around the world, some fear that terrorists may infiltrate into our refugee resettlement program. Yet our vetting process for screening refugees is one of the strongest and most laboriously and heavily scrutinized, making resettlement an unlikely route for would-be terrorists. No refugee has caused a terrorist attack in the United States to date. Thus, it would be irresponsible for us to give up the soft power that we earn from being the world leader in refugee resettlement. If we don’t care, who will care for these vulnerable populations?
A reason for us to welcome refugees is responsibility. The Syrian crisis is tied to the Iraq war and its aftermath. Syrian refugees are fleeing from the brutality of ISIS and the Bashar al-Assad regime. We took responsibility for the refugee aftermath of the Vietnam War and led the resettlement of almost a million Indo-Chinese. Therefore, we can manage at least a fraction of that for the Syrians. Let’s not forget that we all have come here from somewhere else; it is just a matter of who came when.
The third reason why we should take more refugees is to hold our competitive edge. Our communities have benefited from the refugee populations. Refugees and immigrants not only bring their memories, but also come with their rich cultures, beliefs, traditions, customs and much more from other parts of the world. Here they start building their dreams, supporting families, raising children, and celebrating traditions both old and new. They join in civic activities and give back to the communities they live in, thus becoming vibrant and productive citizens like the rest of us.
Refugees have contributed to our country’s advancement. German refugee scientists helped us win World War II. Eastern European scholars fleeing communism became renowned faculty at universities during and after the Cold War era. Former intel chairman Andy Grove was a Hungarian refugee, and former secretary of commerce and CEO of the Kellogg Company Carlos Gutierrez was a Cuban refugee. Many businesses owned by refugees are thriving and others founded high-tech companies that led the United States to industrial dominance in the world.
No one chooses to be a refugee. One is made a refugee by war, persecution or violence. I had firsthand experience of becoming a refugee, facing the horrors and insecurity of life in Bhutan, losing everything for no reason, and being forced to flee. The sense of finding hope again in a home away from home is a unique feeling of great relief.
I strongly believe that it is good for us to welcome refugees in the Granite State and continue our legacy as a welcoming nation for those who have lost everything for reasons beyond their control.
During this World Refugee Day, let’s stand with the millions of refugees affected by the global refugee crisis to commemorate their strength, courage and perseverance. Take time to urge our leaders, legislators and policy makers to stand with refugees and welcome refugee resettlement as a humanitarian issue, not a political issue. Refugees are thankful for the opportunities they are given and eager to become productive members of our communities.
It is more important now than ever before for the world to come together to honor the strength, courage and the contributions of refugees.
(Bhagirath Khatiwada of Concord is a former refugee from Bhutan.)