[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 43 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1774-S1775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING YOUNG VERMONTERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO REFUGEES
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Vermont is known far and wide as a tourist
destination for all seasons. From our celebrated ski slopes to our
stunning and world-renowned fall foliage, Vermont draws travelers from
near and far, from nearby States and from Canada, our neighbor to the
north. What many don't realize is that Vermont has also become home to
refugees and asylum seekers from Iraq, Syria, Bosnia, Sudan, and
elsewhere. These men, women and children enrich our communities and
inspire us all.
One Vermont community, Rutland, last year announced that it would
welcome refugees fleeing the catastrophic civil war in Syria. The town
was preparing to welcome 100 refugees. Nine arrived. When President
Trump issued his appalling and disastrous executive order banning
admission to refugees from Syria and six other nations, the remaining
91 individuals were prevented from coming to Vermont.
I have heard from hundreds of Vermonters outraged by President
Trump's Executive actions to close our borders to those seeking refuge.
Also deeply concerning is the President's clear intent on targeting
Muslim refugees. The freedom of religion, enshrined in the First
Amendment of our Constitution and defended through the ages by
generations of Americans, should not be squandered to promote an
unfounded fear.
The voices raised in opposition to these executive orders cross the
spectrum. I want to include in the Record some of those voices:
students at Rutland High School, some of whom have formed the New
Neighbors Club, to help welcome refugee students who will attend
Rutland City Public Schools.
Emma writes: ``I am a 9th grader from Rutland High School. We should
continue to support immigration in Vermont and the United States. These
people deserve a good life and don't deserve what they have to go
through.''
Carolyn writes: ``I'm from Rutland, Vermont, and I believe that
refugee resettlement is an important issue. We have the opportunity to
make a change in these people's lives and make new relationships and
bonds in our lives. They need a support system so why can't that be
us?''
Lea writes: ``This immigration ban is a big problem to me. I don't
like that our country is stopping people from coming to our country. I
know many people are afraid of what could happen to us. But we are all
human and they are humans looking for safety.''
Lily writes, ``Everyone deserves the same amount of respect and
understanding that we afford to anyone. The refugees obviously need our
help and we are completely capable of building a community that is
ready and willing to accept the refugees.''
Jessica writes: ``I can understand these fears, but they also clearly
come from an inhumane and misinformed point of view. Without
immigration in the past, no one would be here, and it is simply un-
American to deny freedom from persecution to refugees and other
immigrants.''
Emma writes: ``With all of the recent stigma regarding the Refugee
Resettlement Plan, Rutland's program has recently gone static. At
Rutland High School, we have a club that helps raise money and
eventually welcome the refugees. Please make all the movement possible
to make these people feel welcome in our state. We don't want to be
stuck on the wrong side of history.''
Victoria writes: ``I feel that it is incredibly important for us to
help refugees who are in desperate need of a second chance at life. As
a global superpower of a country, it seems absurd to me that we are
accepting so few refugees to our communities, as we could be helping
with the global refugee crisis a whole lot more by actually trying to
mitigate it.''
Ian writes: ``The refugees should come to Rutland because we are
devoted to helping integrate them into our community. Several of the
students here are devoting every Friday to getting together and coming
up with great ideas on how we can incorporate them.''
Kjersti writes: ``As a citizen in the United States, I believe the
diversity is what makes this country beautiful, and the fact that
someone is exempt from the freedom and is turned away because of their
diversity is not what this country stands for.''
Noah writes: ``I believe we should let people immigrate to Vermont
because the people in these countries are living in terrible living
conditions. Everyone in this world is equal so there's no reason not to
let them in. They just want a chance at a safe life.''
Ashleah writes: ``We should continue to support immigration for the
Syrian refugees into our community. This is such a great opportunity
for Rutland to experience more diversity and more culture. Our small
city would benefit greatly from allowing refugees to come and live with
us.''
Kelsey writes: ``People who are safe and living comfortably should do
their best to help those that need it. I feel by turning them away and
denying them help we are being inhuman and cruel.''
Caitlin writes: ``I believe immigration should be accepted in all
areas of this country. I strongly support the idea of people wanting to
make a better life for themselves. I choose to take a stand against
anti-immigration for I believe it is essential to make America
better.''
Greta writes: ``These Syrians are people who have gone through
atrocities and deserve our help. They will also promote understanding
and diversity in our community amidst this political climate of fear
mongering. Welcoming Syrian refugees will only be beneficial for
Rutland and United States, and is upholding the value of America and
human rights.''
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And Elizabeth writes: ``I am disappointed with how our current
administration is portraying our nation to the rest of the world. I
think the people of the United States are stronger, more loving, and
kinder people than what is being shown, and I think we need to take
individual action in order to show this.''
The voices of these young Vermonters are emblematic of what I hear
from Vermonters across our State. We all want to keep our country safe;
of that, there is no question. But President Trump's travel ban ignores
the clear fact that refugees are the most stringently vetted travelers
to the United States. His Executive order provokes and plays on fear.
It does not make us safer.
Benjamin Franklin once famously said, ``Those who give up essential
liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty
nor safety.'' I hope all Senators will listen to the words of these
young Vermonters. President Trump's Executive order does little to
enhance our security, but does great damage to the freedoms that are
the cornerstone of our good and great Nation.
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