Different perspectives matter—our community needs refugee voices
Months ago, while campaigning for this election, I met a woman who was a Somalian refugee. Her husband was set to join her here in Boise, but his acceptance into the U.S. was put on hold in January 2017, when the Trump administration instituted a travel ban. He’s been waiting in a refugee camp ever since.
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common. Refugee camps are often unsafe, unsanitary, and don’t provide people with basic educational and work opportunities. And with a pandemic raging on, it should be an international priority to move refugees out of camps and into society, where they’ll be able to live safely and positively impact their communities.
Meeting refugee families here on the Bench has had me reflecting a lot on my time as a refugee and asylum officer with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). From 2014 until I put in my notice shortly after the 2016 election, I processed refugees from dozens of countries—some of the most common were Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, and Somalia.
In my role, I had a set of new cases every week—at least two each day, and more like five or six per day if I was traveling on a refugee detail. I would have some time to prepare each case by reading through the applicant’s file and conducting research into the conditions in their home country. Then the refugee, their family, and sometimes their attorney would come into my office, and I’d call an interpreter to help me interview them.
I’d interview families for hours—sometimes all day, if their case was really complicated—so I could cross-check their story with the application and my research. In essence, I had to put the refugee or asylum applicant “on the stand” to evaluate the truth, accuracy, and legality of their claim. After the interview, I’d write up a legal memorandum with a summary of the case, the laws and country conditions that applied, and a decision. That’s when I’d have to stamp “approved” or “denied” on the application.
This is one of the many reasons the 2017 travel ban was so baffling to me. The U.S. has accepted more refugees than any other country since the 1980s, and in my experience refugees, especially those from the Middle East, are vetted incredibly thoroughly before being allowed to enter the U.S. Refugee and asylum officers like myself are trained intensively on interview techniques, how to conduct country conditions research, and asylum law. Officers take national security concerns very seriously. All this makes it exceptionally difficult for anyone who’s ever even had contact with a militant or terrorist group to enter the country—even if someone has bought gasoline from ISIS, they can be barred from entering the U.S.
Once the vetting process is complete, it’s time to welcome refugees into our neighborhoods. And while that’s certainly important for refugees and asylum-seekers themselves, it also has a wonderful impact on our communities. Some of the most important things we gain are:
Diversity. Refugees add diversity to our communities. Their presence exposes us to new ideas and different backgrounds, and allows us to share experiences with others who don’t think like us. Opportunities to question our ways of thinking drives growth.
Economic impact. Refugees are an important part of the U.S.'s economy, and a huge asset to our communities—especially here in Boise! Did you know that refugees have a particularly high rate of entrepreneurship?
Perspective. I have heard thousands of stories from refugees from all over the world. Many came from far less privileged backgrounds. Their perspectives on overcoming adversity, remaining positive, and making the most of it inspire me every day.
Culture. Some studies have even shown that exposure to new cultures can boost creativity and boost independence, and make us more social, flexible, and open-minded. Other cultures can also offer a new way of looking at life, family, and community.
All these things and more are easy to see here on the Bench, where we have some of the most diverse schools in the city, thanks to our refugee community. We’re also known for our amazing selection of restaurants and shops serving up food and culture from all over the world. I feel so lucky to live in a community where I have neighbors with such diverse experiences—and also where I can grab dinner from my favorite restaurant, Kibrom’s, more often than I care to admit!
I’m no longer working for USCIS, but my work at a housing nonprofit still puts me in contact with Boise’s refugee communities. These folks often have a difficult time finding adequate housing. Some have moved to the U.S. with excellent educations and English skills, but many are not. Some refugees were doctors and lawyers in their home countries, but when they had to flee and move to a refugee camp, it meant starting over.
Having to start from scratch often means refugees must rent, not own—and as Boiseans know all too well, the rental market in this community is limited, costs continue to increase, and there are few protections. The tight housing market has impacted many, many refugees in our community, and that’s a problem for all of us.
We depend on refugees to contribute to our communities, boost our economies, and start businesses. It’s also a human rights issue: many refugees are languishing in unsafe conditions, and it must be a priority to integrate them into our communities—and ensure they have housing once they’re here. This is one of the many reasons I’m excited to serve as your State Senator: to serve all members of my community and lend my voice to our most vulnerable populations.
