Even if it’s just for a few fleeting moments during the holiday season, I try hard to embrace all the evidence of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. It’s particularly difficult at this time of year for me to accept some of the cruelty and oppression that is the everyday real world, and especially disturbing to see an injustice play out this week as Christians around the world celebrate the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ — the treasured tale of a young pregnant Mary and her husband Joseph who arrived at the end of their journey, and found there was no room for them at the inn.
As there will soon be no room for the waiting list of refugees who hoped to find safe haven here in the United States. Like asylum seekers at the Southern border, they are escaping war, famine, and religious persecution. Unlike the asylum seekers who often arrive in the country and then seek political protection, refugees undergo extensive vetting by the State Department before they are approved for entry into the country. Yet, each year of the Trump administration, their numbers have been significantly reduced. And in a striking twist of fate, even more may be turned away from America’s front door this Christmas week.
In September, President Trump signed an executive order which shrinks the number of refugees down to its lowest number in 40 years. Only 18,000 will be allowed in for 2020, a sharp drop from 110,000 just four years ago. Immediately after the order was signed, thousands of refugees vetted by the State Department with confirmed travel plans were taken off the list to accommodate a now smaller cap — devastating for most who’ve been waiting in crowded refugee camps hoping for a chance to get to America’s shores. No room. But the remaining smaller group of refugees are still not cleared for arrival, because President Trump’s executive order mandates that states and local municipalities express their willingness to resettle refugees in their areas by sending in written consent. And the deadline for getting the written approval to the federal government? Christmas Day, for most states. You don’t have to believe in the Christian story to appreciate the extreme irony.
Here in Massachusetts, Gov. Baker confirmed that he would both continue to accept refugees and would send the required written consent. But early last week, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno defied a unanimous City Council vote to accept refugees, saying he would not issue a letter of consent. Mayor Sarno has complained in the past about immigrants' taxing the resources of that economically struggling city.
The United States refugee program has always had its critics, but for the most part, enjoyed bipartisan political and public support. As MassLive reported, Springfield City Councilor Michael Fenton articulated a common sentiment, saying “We welcome refugees warmly and openly ... because that’s the right thing to do as an American.” I’m especially heavyhearted that the refugees, whose fates hang in the balance, have become collateral damage in a partisan immigration battle that has nothing to do with them. Outside of the Springfield City Council meeting, the United Church of Christ set up a sign welcoming those refugees who may eventually resettle in the area. It read simply, “This Christmas We Remember that Jesus was a Refugee.”
