Refugee supporters discuss international refugee controversy

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Interfaith Refugee Ministry helps people from other countries resettle here in America. Their work includes helping them find jobs, helping them get health care and finding a place to live.

Sara Pascal, Interfaith Refugee Ministry coordinator for the Wilmington office, said there are a lot of misconceptions about refugees.

She said it’s important for people to understand that many of the people fleeing Syria are most likely not refugees, they are asylum seekers. In order to get refugee status to come to the United States or another county in the United Nations, there are extensive backgrounds checks, medical checks and interviews. Pascal said the criteria and rules are stringent. After that a person may be invited into the United States.

Asylum-seekers have applied for refugee status but have not been granted it yet.

The process can be so extensive it can take years for someone to gain refugee status and come into the country.

It took Tun Tun, a Burmese refugee, more than 20 years to be able to come into America. Tun Tun was a student when political unrest boiled over in Burma.

“Three thousand students were killed,” said Tun Tun. “I was arrested. I was beaten, tortured.”

Tun Tun said he escaped to Thailand.

“I lived in a refugee camp for 23 years, not allowed to go outside the camp,” said Tun Tun.

Tun Tun applied for refugee status and waited for years to be able to come to the United States. A new job as a case manager for Interfaith Refugee Ministry brought him to the Port City.

Pascal said those who are involved with helping people build a new life in a new county are disheartened to see all the backlash surrounding refugees.

“The last thing that anybody working in the refugee resettlement field wants is for people to start associating refugees with something negative,” said Pascal.

According to the Interfaith Refugee Ministry less than half of one percent of the world’s refugee population of 14 million is resettled in the United States each year.