Congressional Briefing: The Status of Syrian Refugees

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), American Constitution Society (ACS), and Rutgers Law School Center for Security, Race and Rights co-sponsored a Congressional Hearing on the Status of Syrian Refugees on November 6th, 2019. Senior Staff Attorney Iman Boukadoum served on a panel of experts, along with Sahar Aziz and Amy Austin Holmes to inform Congress and the general public about the legal struggles of Syrian, Kurdish, Armenian, and Assyrian refugees.

Approximately 6 million Syrians are internally displaced, and 5 million are displaced abroad. Turkey, the largest host, has absorbed 3.6 million refugees, Jordan has absorbed over a million, and the US has accepted less than 20,000. Depending on where they land, their identities are extremely politicized for their new host’s gain.

Additionally, with the recent US Military withdrawal from Northern Syria, the number of refugees is expected to increase as Turkey encroaches on the region. Recently, President Erdogan vowed to populate the region it was invading with these refugees, though it is illegal to force refugees to return to their country of origin if it is dangerous to return. With the Assad regime still in power, they are at grave risk of danger.

Special thanks to Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) for hosting the hearing and supporting refugees worldwide!