Kerry wants US to accept more refugees

[Mass]

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/253101-kerry-wants-us-to-accept-more-refugees

Secretary of State John Kerry is proposing to increase the number of refugees the United States resettles each year to help European countries struggling to handle a growing migrant crisis.

During private meetings on Capitol Hill, Kerry told lawmakers he would like to boost the U.S.’s worldwide cap on refugees above 70,000 next year, a senior State Department official told reporters.

Raising the cap would allow the U.S. to admit more Syrian refugees fleeing a war in their country that has lasted nearly five years.
The official would not share a specific number Kerry proposed, only saying he discussed “a range of different numbers” and that members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees have “varying views” about how many should be let in.
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[HassleCat]

1. Let's do this

Start with some number we think will be manageable, let's say 10 thousand. When we have them settled and taken care of, we order up another 10 thousand. Let's stop arguing about the number and do this thing.

[Jester Messiah]

2. Where would they be placed?

Genuinely curious. That's a not inconsiderable sum of people, they'd have a big demographic effect if plopped down en masse, depending on where said plopping occurred. (Not saying that like it's a bad thing, either.)

[Humanist_Activist]

3. St. Louis Missouri, we have local advocates stating we can take at least 60,000 if the Federal...

Government would allow it.

We did it before, successfully, we can do it again, we have the infrastructure and support systems in place.

http://nextstl.com/2015/09/send-syrian-refugees-to-st-louis/

Its grassroots right now, but we are trying to get Mayor Slay, the International Institute of St. Louis and others to advocate for St. Louis to be the refugee city of choice.

[Jester Messiah]

4. Cool!

I wish you success in your endeavor. Also, Mayor Slay? That's the baddest-ass name for a public official I've ever heard.

[Humanist_Activist]

5. Francis Slay, his family is from the Middle-East, we took in 60 thousand Bosnian-Muslim refugees...

in the mid to late 90s, and they have helped revitalize the area. We have quite a few Mosques/Islamic centers, we could always use more refugees.

ON EDIT: Oh, and I live almost smack dab in the middle of "little Bosnia".

[CTyankee]

6. Such a good idea. Do you have an active Literacy Volunteer group there?

Here in New Haven, LV has been active in resettlement of refugees for many years. We have had many who were able to take advantage of our free literacy classes and tutors all over the city. When I was an active volunteer there was a group of Afghan women who were learning English in their new country. I loved the diversity of LV. It has always been dear to my heart...

[Humanist_Activist]

7. We have what is called the International Institute of St. Louis, they were responsible for the....

settlement of about 60,000 Bosnian refugees during the Balkans conflict.

[CTyankee]

8. LVs often work with such organizations in a city wide collective effort to provide services

that are vital to the resettled community, particularly the adults. The children have school and they learn English very quickly. Adults have a harder time.

Instead of a burden, refugees are a huge force for growth and thriving in a community. They bring in skills and determined effort. Their kids do well in school.

What a lovely experience St. Louis had with the Bosnian people there. Thank you for sharing it with us.