The conflict in Syria is one of the most devastating events in human history. It has displaced more than 84 million people, 26.6 million of them refugees. It has also destabilized neighboring countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. The burden of sheltering the majority of refugees is disproportionately borne by a small number of poor countries, with only seven countries hosting more than half of the world’s refugees.
As a country that prides itself on its heritage of welcoming immigrants, we need to do more than simply increase our refugee intake. We must rethink our approach to the entire issue, from funding to community support and the long-term integration of refugees into our communities.
Refugees flee their homes and countries of origin when they have a “well-founded fear of persecution” due to their race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political opinion. The international and federal legal definition of a refugee includes a range of protections and benefits, such as the right to work and to receive education, as well as language assistance and housing supports.
The focus of resettlement programs is on quickly getting new arrivals into jobs and becoming self-sufficient. In practice, this often leads to refugees being funneled into low-paying jobs that do not offer the skills and education needed for long-term, sustainable employment. Local integration offers an alternative to this model, enabling refugees to build lives in their host communities. However, this option can be challenging for refugees, who are often reintegrated into a society that is unfamiliar with their language, customs, and traditions.
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