Syrian Refugees and U.S. Security: Balancing Fear and Facts

Introduction: American Fears and the Syrian Refugee Debate

There is widespread fear among a section of Americans that a Paris-style attack could happen in the United States if the country allows an influx of Syrian refugees. This fear is the primary basis of the American backlash against Syrian refugee resettlement. A raging debate has emerged on the issue, with both facts and assumptions being put forward by two camps — those who support Syrian refugee intake into the U.S. and those who oppose it.

The U.S. Refugee Vetting Process

One school of thought dismisses the fear that Syrian refugee intake could result in a Paris-style attack, pointing to the process of relocating refugees into America, which is very different from how they are admitted into Europe and elsewhere. According to the State Department, Syrians who are flown to the United States are among the most thoroughly vetted groups of people allowed into the country.

There are multiple layers of security and background checks that every candidate must pass before entering the U.S. Every applicant is first vetted by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and then separately reviewed by U.S. State Department officials. The FBI, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security are frequently included in the vetting and verification process as well. This process is complex and takes between 18 months and two years to complete before even a single refugee is permitted to enter the United States.

Who Are the Syrian Refugees?

It is also important to understand who the Syrian refugees actually are. Those fleeing Syria and seeking refugee status in another country are themselves among the most vulnerable groups affected by the Syrian conflict. The majority of refugees are children and women who have fled their country of birth fearing for their lives and livelihoods. Many others are religious minorities who are themselves victims of violence or torture.

It is therefore very unlikely that the very people forced to leave their homeland in search of a better life would engage in any form of terrorist activity. In fact, many advocates for refugee admission rightly argue that Syrian refugees are generally afraid of the same thing that Americans fear — Islamist terrorism. Many refugees are fleeing regions under the control of the Islamic State, having defied the edicts of that terrorist organization to escape.

Conclusion: Balancing Security and Humanitarian Responsibility

Hence, it is very unlikely that those very people who have been forced to be displaced from their homeland and seeking a better life outside of their country would engage in any form of terrorist activities. By refusing entry to Syrian refugees, the United States may, in fact, be helping ISIS, which can then claim that the West is unwilling to help Syrian Muslims — leaving ISIS as the only option available to them for protection or salvation. It is therefore apt to conclude that Syrian refugees should be allowed into the United States, provided that they undergo thorough security and background checks, in order to allay the fears of a section of Americans while still honoring the country's humanitarian obligations.