Church Agencies Blast Government's Attempt to Reduce Refugee Admissions
Episcopal News Service. February 18, 2000 [2000-039]
(ENS) Church-related agencies that deal with refugees have strongly criticized a proposal by the Clinton administration in its budget proposal to reduce the number of refugees admitted to the United States and decrease assistance to refugees around the world.
"The decline in the numbers of refugees being considered for admission next year is particularly regrettable given the increasing number of those in the world for whom resettlement remains the only escape from lives of continual suffering," commented Richard Parkins, director of Episcopal Migration Ministries. "Surely a nation enjoying such prosperity at a time when so many refugees languish in camps can and should do better."
There are nearly 14 million refugees, and over 17 million internally displaced persons, in the world today. Many have been driven from their homes and will never be able to return. Only a small numbers find refuge in developed countries. While the U.S. has traditionally been the world leader in welcoming refugees, admissions have declined by over 40 percent in the last eight years. Refugee advocacy agencies, with some congressional support, have argued for returning to historic levels of about 100,000 a year.
"My experience convinces me that there is extraordinary potential in communities and in churches around the country for extending hospitality to newcomers -- especially those forcibly uprooted from their homes because of violence," Parkins said. "For our government to fail to tap this potential for hospitality when the needs are so great only diminishes our role as a leader within the international community. A generous approach to admitting refugees gives us the moral authority to encourage others to offer hospitality."
In the meantime the world produces more refugees. In the Balkans thousands face the daunting challenge of repatriation or permanent resettlement In Southeast Asia secular violence and separatist movements will likely continue to produce refugees in Indonesia and Burma. In the Middle East, millions of refugees are the victims of internal strife. In the Americas, Colombia's long-running civil war could add to refugee problems.
Africa is the most obvious cauldron with 22 countries involved in armed conflict or serious internal tensions, adding to the flow of refugees. In the Sudan, for example, a 30-year civil war has killed two million and uprooted four million people.
"On a continent with 10 percent of the world's population, but 50 percent of the world's wars, and an AIDS epidemic ravaging millions of lives, we simply must do better," said Ralston Deffenbaugh, director of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and chair of the Refugee Council USA.
"As people of faith we are obliged to help as many as possible begin their lives anew," added Parkins. "And we should press our government to respond so that we can provide hope for people who are now caught in despair."