MIDDLE EASTERN CHRISTIANS DESERVE SPECIAL REFUGEE STATUS AND ASYLUM

            In response to the suggestion that Syrian Christian refugees should be given asylum in the USA, Obama claimed he can not do this because it would be unconstitutional.   "there will never be a religious test on immigration to the United States." he proclaimed.  He should know this is not true.  

           A review of Obama's Homeland Security Web site regarding its refugee & asylum programs shows that refugees are defined as persons who are of special concern to the United States and who are or are in fear of persecution because of race religion or ethnicity.  Specifically a refugee is not simply a person displaced because of war, but rather, a refugees for purposes of the program us a person who is persecuted because of, among other things, religion.  The USA, for example, has long had a specific refugee preference classification for Russian Jews because they are persecuted by the Russian government.  Are we to presume there are no other Russians who are persecuted by the Russian government than Jews?  No, obviously there are many who are persecuted, yet the Jews are the only specific group, a religiously identified group, who are given preference for asylum because of religious persecution.  

            Now consider the Middle Eastern situation in that light.  Clearly Christians, and other religious minorities such as the Yazitis, are persecuted in Syria and Iraq, specifically because of ISIS and other radical groups such as Al Queda, and Muslims generally.  While many Muslims have been displaced by the Syrian civil war, the majority are not persecuted because of race ethnicity or religion other than specific minorities such as the Yazitiz.  On the other hand, Syrian Christians who lived in the area taken over by ISIS and Al Queda controlled areas clearly are.  Our President has stated we need to take the Syrian refugees generally into this country even though, this is not authorized by current law on refugees.  I do not argue here that no Syrian Muslims are entitled to refugee status as many may be; but I do argue that clearly Middle Eastern Christians are of "special concern to the United States" since the USA is primarily a Judeo-Christian county.   Historically immigration preference was given by the USA in setting immigration quotas, to Europeans as it was formally recognized the United States government that this is primarily a Judeo Christian county of European origin.  Obama has specifically denied this historic and legal fact and has announced the USA is no longer a Christian country and refuses to give any preference or even refugee status to Middle Eastern Christians.

            Instead of stepping up approval of Christian refugees for asylum in the US, Obama has not been moved to help.  Less than one half of one percent of the Syrians approved for admittance in the USA under the refugee program under Obama have been Christians.  In the Kurdish area of Syria and Iraq, where many Christians and Yazitiz’s have fled to escape persecution by ISIS Muslims, the UN did initially set up refugee camps, but soon left the area.  It is reported that no humanitarian aid of any kind has been provided to them by the US or the UN for over a year.  A small amount of private aid has reached them, but by in large, they have been ignored by the US government, the UN and the American Christian community.

            Urge your congressman and senators to pass legislation to help Syrian and Iraqi Christians gain asylum status in the USA and to provide humanitarian aid to those who remain.