In light of the global refugee crisis, the Church World Service (CWS) bemoaned the lack of leadership from the Obama Administration, which only plans to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. While some have lauded this as a meaningful increase, CWS ascertains that, in fact it is NOT SO. In the face of today’s global refugee crisis, with over 60 million people displaced including 11 million Syrians, the Church World Service (CWS) believes that this announcement is a gross under reaction. The CWS and partners are urging the Administration to show real leadership by resettling at least 100,000 Syrian refugees this coming year, in addition to 100,000 refugees from all over the world.

The Reverend John L. McCullough, CWS’s President and CEO, said “President Obama must have forgotten to add a zero at the end of this number, as he should be committing the United States to resettle 100,000 Syrians refugees, not this meager figure of 10,000.” The issue of Syrian refugees is intriguing whereas the CWS advocating a policy to bring in 100,000 refugees, other groups and general public asking why should America even bring in 10,000 refugees.

Recently immigrated Syrian refugee Hussam Al Roustom, who arrived with his family to Philadelphia after fleeing Syria for Jordan, said: “It’s like taking someone from a very small, dark room to a very, very big world and this is why I want to help others go through what I have gone through.” (NY Times, October 13th).

Most of the nation’s Syrian immigrants currently live in the Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Detroit metropolitan areas, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Migration Policy Institute. There is smaller number of Syrians also live in Allentown and Philadelphia area.  All incoming refugees are likely to be resettled in these regions, where they have relatives and support networks. The Philadelphia region ranks number 13 in the nation for the highest number of immigrants from Syria, which is low compared to the size of the city. To decide how many refugees to send to Philadelphia, Allentown, Pennsylvania, each year, the State Department considers how many people local nonprofits can resettle there. The Philadelphia-based Lutheran Children and Family Service (LCFS) settled between 100 and 200 refugees in Allentown, Lancaster and Philadelphia this year; Allentown’s allotment included 39 Syrians.

Jim Kenney, the city’s Democratic mayoral nominee, has indicated that as mayor he would welcome refugees from Syria. “Philadelphia has a long history of being a city of refugees for those in need, welcoming Quakers, Irish immigrants, Sudanese refugees and many others,” Kenney added in a statement. “In keeping with our city’s history and supporting the call of many world leaders, including President Obama and Pope Francis, to take in Syrian refugees seeking a safe home” (Philadelphia Magazine).

In proportion to each country’s population, this would be akin to the United States accepting more than three million Syrian refugees I one used a comparative statistical scale. For the United States to accept only 10,000 Syrian refugees is quite meaningless drop in the bucket. Now is the time for the United States and the administration to act by meaningfully increasing overall resettlement numbers to 200,000 refugees, including The 100,000 Syrians in order to show true leadership in the global community. The increase will strain America’s sprawling refugee admissions program, a partnership between the federal government, international organizations like the United Nations, nine national nonprofits and their hundreds of local affiliates. Cities and states may need to spend more money on social services for refugees, particularly if Congress doesn’t approve additional federal funding for resettlement. Jen Smyers is a refugee expert at Church World Service said ‘The Obama administration actually requested some $600 million less for migration and refugee assistance this fiscal year, than it did last year, but still it can be done”, he also added “In 1980th US airlifted more than 200,000 Vietnamese refugees, who now are very, very much interwoven in the fabric of our communities”.

Lauren Hitt, Kenney’s spokeswoman, said that the Kenney camp has spoken with a mix of religious groups, non-profits, leaders in Philadelphia’s Arab community, existing city agencies and immigration advocates in order to determine how to best take in refugees. If Philadelphia ends up accepting Syrian refugees with open arms, it would likely be to its benefit. “Like the experience of a lot of other refugees recently who are highly skilled, many of the Syrians may wind up in some low-wage jobs that are not commensurate with the social status they had before. But because of high educational attainment in general and high past job skills attainment, my assumption and hope would be that they would rise in the labor market relatively quickly,” said Hitt. (Philadelphia Magazine).

The Church World Service (CWS) is one of nine nationwide organizations that helps to place refugees and immigrants here in America. Sheila Mastropietro works at the CWS Lancaster Office, and heads their immigration and refugee program. From the phone interview Sheila Mastropietro said:“When the U.S. agrees to accept a refugee, they go through a whole battery of security checks,” said Mastropietro, “background checks, health exams before they are determined they are allowed to enter the U.S.” The CWS pairs families with a local church, who will help fund their stay over a three-month period. “The church will often go in, and set up the apartment. They will take them to apply for Social Security cards, register the children in school, get the adults into ESL class” said Mastropietro. CWS has job programs, that help refugees find a job, but the church will do an orientation to the city, driving lessons, if needed, show them where the shops are. She said once the three months are over, the families are usually able to sustain themselves.

The issue of refugees definitely brings out the moral and ethical champions. However, in modern society, where so much is focused on taking care of oneself, the pleading for doing the right thing falls often on a hard ground. Reverend McCullough referenced to President Obama that He should follow in the steps of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, who showed moral leadership after the fall of Saigon. In 1980 the USA airlifted more than 200,000 refugees alone and welcomed a total of 759,482 Vietnamese refugees, providing them safety and peace.

In response to public outcry for those, whose life in danger, Reverend McCullough said “These individuals are now our friends, neighbors, family and community members. History shows that where there’s a will, there’s a way. We now demand real leadership from this administration.”