Stand up for refugees

Around the world, 60 million men, women and children have lost their homes because of war and political persecution. There have never been so many refugees in the world as there are today.

In the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy, we have seen an act of hate and terror used to scapegoat entire communities based on their religion, home country and even circumstances beyond their control.

This is not who we are as a nation.

America has a long-standing tradition of protecting, and providing refuge for, the world’s most vulnerable. Throughout our history, refugees fleeing war and persecution have found a safe haven in the United States.

Fearmongering does not reflect Kansans’ proud history of welcoming refugees into our communities. For many decades we have overwhelmingly welcomed refugees into our neighborhoods, schools and places of worship.

In Kansas, the International Rescue Committee has helped resettle hundreds of refugees over the years, including those from Burma, Congo, Somalia, Sudan and Iraq. We help ensure families have the tools and support they need to integrate into our communities, helping them set up their first new home, providing English and cultural orientation classes and guidance to find jobs and even start small businesses.

Refugees such as Aziz Ahmadzai are eager to work and build a peaceful life for their families. Ahmadzai is from Afghanistan, and when he first came to Kansas, he was eager to go to work to support his wife and children. Just one month after his arrival in Wichita, he started working at a Chipotle restaurant. It didn’t take long for Ahmadzai to become known among his colleagues as a great worker and team player.

Before a refugee family such as Ahmadzai’s comes to the United States, they must undergo the most rigorous of security screenings. These screenings involve various offices inside the U.S. government, from the Department of Homeland Security to the FBI, the Department of Defense and multiple intelligence agencies.

The state’s recent announcement to end its partnership with the federal refugee resettlement program is at complete odds with the community support for refugees we see each and every day. Our offices have received record-breaking donations and inquiries from volunteers eager to help however they can.

We are now at a crossroads in this country. One path leads us down a road in which we turn our backs on the people who need our help the most. The other path takes us down a road of kindness, compassion and common humanity – one that the U.S. has taken throughout history and that has led to our strength in tolerance and diversity.

Now more than ever, we must stand together and send a message that what unites us is far greater than what divides us.

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Stand up for refugees."