Thoughts on Vetting

Daryl

Welcoming Syrian refugees with open arms may seem like the compassionate thing to do, but it may not be realistic. There is a risk in taking in large numbers of refugees that has to be assessed. The federal government needs to mitigate risk. Regardless of religion, we have to treat each and every refugee as if they were traumatized. The government also might want to only accept women and children. There is also the matter of learning English, which is a must if refugees are to assimilate and move up in American society.

Refugees can’t realistically be vetted by asking a set of preplanned questions from ICE agents. In order to thoroughly vet refugees, there has to be a place where refugees can be vetted before they are let loose on society as they were in Germany. When Soldiers come back from deployments, leadership tends to mitigate risk by asking them to self-assess and seek help for mental health. Other ways of mitigating risk include limiting risky activities like motorcycle riding and drinking after a deployment. Soldiers returning from combat zones tend to regress.

Some former military bases that were closed could be turned into “Refugee Integration Centers.” The refugee centers would need psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, English teachers and translators. The psychiatrists could assess for trauma. If the refugees were traumatized, they could be treated. I think what is going on in Germany has more to do with trauma than it does with religion. People who have been dehumanized can’t realistically be expected to act humanely until they are treated. It might take approximately two years to vet the refugees.

​Refugee Integration Centers would help mitigate risk. They should be set up in place before Congress decides on what number of refugees to accept. Psychiatrists can do a better job of vetting than an ICE agent with a list of questions. Refugees coming from combat zones should learn about American culture and what is appropriate here.

​I am not anti-Immigration. I think Refugee Integration Centers would mitigate risk and give refugees a chance to become productive Americans.