How Should Marines and all Service Members React to the Refugee Crisis?

We don't admit refugees, solely because of who they are and what they are facing. We admit Refugees, in large part because of who we are, and what we stand for. The Demonizing of this issue as it applies to Syrians and the pandering to fear from mostly Republicans is shameful. I despise the Democrats for many good reasons, and I am a registered independent, and cannot envision myself voting for a Democrat for any elected office in the near and long term future. But the behavior of the Republicans on this issue does not make me want to register as a Republican either.

Reasonable reactions to the security threat is to tighten the security background checks. it currently takes 18 to 24 months to pass these checks and the security vetting. Another possible proposal maybe to prioritize the refugee admissions of families and children as refugees, and maybe limiting the refugee admissions of Military Age males. Finally, we have treaty obligations to accept Refugees and not to return (refouler) people seeking asylum who are here in the US. So major changes, would have to be done by passing a law and having the president sign it. Probably not going to happen with this president and this Congress. I have been a practicing Immigration Attorney for over twenty years.

Capt Richard I P. . These words were written in a time where wolves were not trying to hide among the sheep to murder citizens of the U.S. Allowing refugees in is not the issue, it is how do we ensure we are not allowing the wolves in. We know what the intention of the enemy is (and they are our enemy even if our president will not speak it, they have) to mix in to infiltrate and to create the kind of mayhem we have seen in Paris, twice and in countless other cities around the world.

The words on the Statue of Liberty were written in a different time where refugees were not political/military/jihadist tools to be used to someone's advantage. To ignore the threat is folly. To be prudent and selective is smart. They have changed the dynamic, not us. Those words, while strong and aspirational, do not address the times nor are they official policy or a matter of law. It is poetry.

Cpl Jeff Nelly-Actually, we had Anarchists and Communists and Soviet Spies coming into the US in the 20s and 30s and the same xenophobia we are seeing today mirrors the ugliness and Jew Haters back then who saw the Immigration of Eastern Europeans poor people as a major threat to the Status Quo of the United States. Before that we had "no Irish or dogs allowed" signs in Boston, Before the Civil War, there was very strong Anti-German Immigration Sentiments in many parts of the country (many Germans were escaping the war and unrest that had engulfed many parts of what we now know as unified Germany-people feared that some of the former rebel Commanders would stir up trouble in the US with their anti-German Monarchy Rebellion views) and the ear of a Papist Wave of Catholics coming into the US from Ireland, and after the Irish, it was "those damn WOPS" (the derogatory term used for the Italian Immigration Wave "With Out papers" meaning no immigration visa Immigrants who came here broke, poor and with little education, speaking no English).

"The first non-English-speaking immigrant group to enter the United States in large numbers, Germans played major roles in American economic development, the abolitionist movement, U.S. military forces, and other spheres during the nineteenth century, and German immigrants continued to make important contributions to the United States during the twentieth century." see http://immigrationtounitedstates.org/519-german-immigrants.html I cannot imagine the US winning the Civil War without the contributions of the German Regiments and the Irish Regiments.

Both Immigrant Groups distinguishing themselves on the battlefield and in numerous Union Victories (and defeats-the Irish were recognized on both sides, North and South for their amazing bravery in the Battle of Fredericksburg, where they made repeated advances against murderous fire of the Confederate defenders of the stone wall at Marye's Heights. "Next was his Irish Brigade under Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Meagher. By coincidence, they attacked the area defended by fellow Irishmen of Col. Robert McMillan's 24th Georgia Infantry. One Confederate who spotted the green regimental flags approaching cried out, "Oh God, what a pity! Here comes Meagher's fellows." But McMillan exhorted his troops: "Give it to them now, boys! Now's the time! Give it to them!" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fredericksburg). More Mexican -Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor in WWII and the Korean War than any other identifiable ethnic group of Americans. See Raul Morin's "Among the Valiant."

All the draft age males in my family of Mexicans and native Born Americans of Mexican descent like myself, served in WWII. Both grandfathers, one who came back from the war and one who did not served in combat in WWII, one by land (KIA Antipolo, Manila, the Philippines, March 14th, 1945), one by sea on three Navy Warships, the USS Gridley (Tin Can), the USS San Diego (lt Cruiser), and the USS Guam (Hvy Cruiser) in the final great Battle of WWII, the Battle for Okinawa, dodging Kamikaze's and providing supporting fires for the land campaign.

Every immigration period brings its own challenges and potential problems. What seems to stay the same is that there will always be some Americans who will demagogue the Immigration or refugee issue for cheap political points, and to stir up American Xenpophobia.

I can say that ecard is so true and funny

I often disagree with you Capt. Miller, but God Bless you for hanging in there and taking fire from all sides. You are a stubborn son of a bitch. I like that about you, even if some of your positions drive me and others here on RP crazy. that is the point of free speech isn't it. Free Speech is not about those who agree with us, but those who say things that drive us crazy.