Since violence broke out in Syria in 2011, more than 200,000 people have been killed by violence, nearly 8 million within Syria have been driven from their homes, and at least another 4 million have fled to other countries to escape what is rapidly becoming a complex proxy war. For years, those fleeing conflict have been forced to risk life and limb by seeking passage through the Balkans and across the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in many deaths and what the United Nations has called the “worst crisis for almost a quarter of a century.”
In recent weeks, 31 United States governors have voiced a vehement opposition to the continued resettlement of Syrian refugees within their states’ borders. Moreover, the House of Representatives recently initiated two pieces of legislation that would drastically belabor the already exhaustive refugee screening process. On Nov. 19, it passed H.R. 4038, which would restrict the rate at which the Syrian refugees are accepted through U.N. referral by requiring the personal approval of not only the Secretary of Homeland Security but also the Directors of the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) and the Department of National Intelligence. In addition, the House recently sent the proposed H.R. 4078 “Give States a Chance” bill to the House judiciary committee, which would grant governors the ability to refuse resettlement of federally approved Syrian refugees if the number of refugees already in their states is “too high” or they are not “reasonably satisfied” with the federal screening process.
We, the undersigned, believe the reasoning behind these measures and their detrimental effect on the U.S. refugee resettlement policy is not only mistaken but also unjust, and we voice our support for the continued resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the U.S. We — in accordance with the Catholic Social Tradition on human dignity and in recognition of our shared humanity with those afflicted by this humanitarian crisis — believe we have a moral responsibility to care for those seeking refuge within our borders. We must remember, as Pope Francis said, “behind these statistics are people, each of them with a name, a face, a story, an inalienable dignity which is theirs as a child of God.” If we do nothing while our nation closes its borders to those who are in desperate need of safety, we become passive bystanders to and accomplices in injustice.
As a collective, we believe we must not respond to acts of terror with fear — which only increases destructive division and violence — but with unwavering compassion. The refugee vetting process is already thorough and intensely competitive, taking an average of between 18 and 24 months from referral to arrival in the U.S. During this time, refugees are subjected to the highest level of security checks required of any incoming traveler. Refugee applicants are subject to screening from several agencies including the FBI, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center/Intelligence Community. Less than one percent of the global refugee population makes it past the initial screening with U.N. organizations. Demanding an even more rigorous security screening before the refugees’ resettlement in the U.S. will likely cause undue delay or outright rejection of innocent refugees, resulting in a denial of their basic human rights to freedom from oppression, free practice of religion and physical safety. Furthermore, such an action could potentially cost refugees their lives, especially as winter begins in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Eastern Europe.
As citizens of the world, we cannot justify additions to an already rigorous screening process in the name of our safety if it will come at the expense of human life and dignity. We cannot justify the refusal of basic human rights to innocents — particularly when the heightened security screening cannot even guarantee the safety that it attempts to promise. We hope that in sharing these words, we can encourage the University of Notre Dame to continue to be the lighthouse that Fr. Theodore Hesburgh envisioned, lighting the path to affirm our responsibility and willingness to welcome refugees in accordance with this identity. We must be willing to give food to the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty and to welcome the stranger. We call to mind the Christian image of Mary and Joseph during this season of Advent, as they migrate to Bethlehem as strangers seeking shelter. We thank Fr. Jenkins for his Thanksgiving announcement encouraging the Notre Dame student body to “not be cowed by terrorists into turning our backs on our Syrian brothers and sisters, but instead — and in the name of Our Lady of Refuge — share with them our bounty and protection.”
Student Coalition for Immigration Advocacy (SCIA)
Martha Villegas, President
Jessica Pedroza, Co Vice-President
Ana I. Rodelas, Co Vice-President
Hannah Legatzke, Secretary
Adriana Cantos, Treasurer
Libertad Heredia, Video Director
Juan Rangel, Class of 2015, Founder of SCIA
Chizo Ekechukwu, On Behalf of Diversity Council of Notre Dame
Teresa Kennedy and Brittany Ebeling, On Behalf of Human Rights ND
Matthew Caponigro, On Behalf of Notre Dame in Solidarity with Syria
Steven Fisher, On Behalf of ND Peace Fellowship
Michelle McCarthy, On Behalf of College Democrats of Notre Dame
Bryan Ricketts, On Behalf of Student Government
Kelly McGee, On Behalf of Arabic Club
Liyana Yusof, On Behalf of the Muslim Students Association
Zoe Rae Rote, On Behalf of the World Hunger Coalition
Kimberly Smith, On Behalf of Hispanic Engineers and Scientists
Rachel Wallace and Ray’Von Jones, On Behalf of Shades of Ebony
Reynaldo Lopez, Class of 2016
Flor Lizett Flores, Class of 2016
Adrian Mark Lore, Class of 2019
Cristina McCabe, Class of 2017
Grace Watkins, Class of 2017
CJ (Caleb) Pine, Class of 2017
Kyle Witzigman, Class of 2016
Monica Barboza, Class of 2017
Daniel Passon, Class of 2016
Alexis Doyle, Class of 2017
John King, Class of 2016
Maya Jain, Class of 2017
Brenna Leahy, Class of 2017
Annie Kuster, Class of 2016
Carter Boyd, Class of 2016
Adam Rene Rosenbaum, Class of 2016
Dan (April) Feng, Class of 2017
Corey Robinson, Class of 2016
Monica Montgomery, Class of 2019
Bridget Rickard, Class of 2018
Cesar Hernandez, Class of 2017
Dan Sehlhorst, Class of 2016
Joshua Napierkowski, Class of 2016
Ruth Cooper, Class of 2017
Maxwell Ujdak, Class of 2018
Rose Urankar, Class of 2016
Danny (Daniel) Martin, Class of 2017
Nick Courtney, Class of 2018
Patrick Donegan, Class of 2017
Julianna Vidales, Class of 2018
Francesco Tassi, Class of 2018
Cameron Hart, Class of 2017
John McCready, Class of 2017
Jennifer Cha, Class of 2017
Philip Wilson, Class of 2017
Victoria Velasquez, Class of 2017
Katarina Goitz, Class of 2016
Patrick Kearney, Class of 2016
Madeleine Paulsen, Class of 2017
Michael McFadden, Class of 2016
Kathleen Kollman, Class of 2017
Angela Bird, Class of 2016
Jenna Knapp, Class of 2010, Masters Class of 2016
Jenny Ng, Class of 2017
Michael Dinh, Class of 2016
Sharia Smith, Class of 2016
Lauren Boutros, Class of 2019
Katherine Luotto, Class of 2017
Tessa Laubacher, Class of 2016
Laura LeBrun, Class of 2016
Jacob Dean, Class of 2016
Claire Kouatli, Class of 2016
Kathleen Kennedy, Class of 2016
Mariel Kennedy, Class of 2016
Alexandra Bohnsack, Class of 2016
Maria Sierra Caceres, Class of 2019
Maria A. Munoz-Robles, Class of 2018
Brizzia G. Munoz-Robles, Class of 2018
Lauren Crawford, Class of 2016
Veronica Feliz, Class of 2016
Xitlaly Estrada, Class of 2017
Daniel Esparza, Class of 2017
Armani “Niko” Porter, Class of 2018
Gerard Martinez, Class of 2016
Jasmine Winston, Class of 2018
Kelly McGarry, Class of 2017
Nidia Ruelas, Class of 2016
Brian Mukhaya, Class of 2017
Jessica Peck, Class of 2016
Liam E. O’Connor, Class of 2016
Sarah Morris, Class of 2016
Laura Camarata, Class of 2016
Annemarie Coman, Class of 2016
Megan Schilling, Class of 2016
Kaitlin Farren, Class of 2017
Gavin Hsu, Class of 2016
Colleen McLinden, Class of 2016
Nicholas Schilling, Class of 2014, J.D. ‘17
Katrina Linden, Class of 2016
Roge Karma, Class of 2018
Rosemary Pfaff, Class of 2018
Danielle L’Heureux, Class of 2018
Ryan Leen, Class of 2017
Nina Jones, Class of 2016
Brendan Pelkey, Class of 2016
Maddie Braman, Class of 2016
Savannah Wunderlich, Class of 2016
Anna Poteraj, Class of 2016
Caitlin Rosswurm, Class of 2019
Laura Hernandez, Class of 2019
Claire Pugh, Class of 2018
Joseph Wolf, Class of 2017
Margaret Moran, Class of 2017
Margaret Gentine, Class of 2018
Roxana Rodriguez Garcia, Class of 2018
Keith Loh, Class of 2016
Laura Housman, Class of 2017
Dana Deradoorian, Class of 2017
Hannah Petersen, Class of 2016
Maggie McDowell, Class of 2016
Monica Gorman, Class of 2016
Liam Cawley, Class of 2015
Lucinda Krahl, Class of 2016
Erick Tapia, Class of 2018
Will Harris, Class of 2016
Angela Lederach, PhD student Anthropology and Peace Studies
Leo Guardado, PhD student Theology and Peace Studies
A. Giray Yaglikci, PhD Student, Computer Science and Engineering
Finola Prendergast, PhD student in the Department of English
Caleb Ontiveros, PhD student, Philosophy
John Hanson, PhD student, History and Philosophy of Science
Michael Rauschenbach, PhD student, Philosophy
Rachel Jonker, PhD student, Philosophy
Karie Cross, PhD student, Peace Studies and Political Science
Clair Mesick, PhD student, Theology
Ting Cho Lau, PhD student, Philosophy
Callie Phillips, PhD student, Philosophy
Dustin Crummett, PhD student, Philosophy
Katie Comeau, PhD student, Sociology
Patrick Gamez, PhD student, Philosophy
Ryan Hammond, PhD student, Philosophy
Francis Bonenfant-Juwong, PhD Candidate, History and Peace Studies
M. Tahir Kilavuz, PhD Student, Political Science
James Strasburg, PhD student, History
Catherine Bronson PhD; Islam/Arabic
William Smith, PhD student, History
Justin Christy, PhD student, Philosophy
David Pattillo, PhD student, Philosophy
Peter Finocchiaro, PhD student, Philosophy
Matteo Bianchetti, PhD student, Philosophy
Timothy Matovina, Professor of Theology, Institute for Latino Studies Co-Director
Karen Richman, Director, Undergraduate Studies, Institute for Latino Studies, and Creole Language and
Culture Program
Marisel Moreno, Associate Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures
Fr. Daniel Groody, CSC, Associate Professor of Theology ND
Alex E. Chávez, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Fellow of the Institute for Latino Studies
John Duffy, Associate Professor of English, O’Malley Director of the University Writing Program
Abigail Salazar, Assistant Director of Multicultural and Graduate Student Ministries
Sarah McKibben, Associate Professor of Irish Language and Literature, Fellow of the Keough-Naughton
Institute for Irish Studies
Jason Ruiz, Associate Professor of American Studies
Katherine Taylor, Director of Global Health Training
Steve Reifenberg, Executive Director, Kellogg Institute for International Studies
Mary R. D’Angelo, Associate Professor Department of Theology
Fr. Kevin Sandberg, CSC, Director, Common Good Initiative
Christina Wolbrecht, Associate Professor of Political Science
Robert Goulding, Associate Professor, Program of Liberal Studies
Kevin Barry, Director, Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning
Joseph A. Buttigieg, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of English
Janet Kourany, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Concurrent Associate Professor of Gender Studies
Stuart Greene, Associate Professor of English with a joint appointment in Africana Studies
Patricia Blanchette, Professor of Philosophy
Lionel M. Jensen, Associate Professor of East Asian Languages & Cultures
Anne Leone, Research Assistant Professor, Romance Languages and Literatures
Katrina Barron, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics
Julia Douthwaite, Professor of French, Department of Romance Languages & Literatures
James P. Sterba, Professor of Philosophy
Maria McKenna, Africana Studies/Education, Schooling, and Society
Fr. Donald LaSalle. S.M.M., First Year of Studies
Gail Bederman, Associate Professor of History
Robert Walls, Assistant Professional Specialist, American Studies
Fr. Joe Corpora, C.S.C.
Steve Tomasula, Professor, Department of English
Maria Tomasula, Michael P. Grace Professor, Department of Art, Art History & Design
Jill Godmilow, Emerita Professor, Department of Film, Television & Theatre
Dianne Pinderhughes, Department of Political Science, Department of Africana Studies
Karen Graubart, Associate Professor of History
Susan D. Blum, Professor of Anthropology
Cecilia Lucero, Advisor, First Year of Studies; Co-Director, Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program
Brian S Collier, Graduate Faculty, Institute for Educational Initiatives
Perin Gurel, Assistant Professor of American Studies
Marty Wolfson, Professor of Economics Emeritus
Benedict Giamo, Associate Professor of American Studies
Bill Purcell, Associate Director of Center for Social Concerns, Co-Director of CST Minor
Marsha Stevenson, Visual Arts Librarian
Thomas F. Anderson, Professor and Chair, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
Philip Sakimoto, First Year of Studies
Bridget Hoyt, Snite Museum of Art
Rachel Bohlmann, American History Librarian
David Cortright, Director of Policy Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace
Cheri Smith, Psychology Librarian, Program Director: Academic Outreach & Engagement
Leonor Wangensteen, Advisor, First Year of Studies, Coordinator for Support of Undocumented Students
Kathleen Opel, Director of Study Abroad, Notre Dame International
Richard Economakis, Associate Professor, Director, Graduate Studies in Architecture and Urbanism
School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame
Ernesto Verdeja, Associate Professor of Political Science and Peace Studies
Beth Klein, Staff, Kresge Law Library
Rosie McDowell, Center for Social Concerns
Jennifer Betz, Assistant Director MA Program, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies
Sonia Gernes, Professor Emerita of English
Michelle Wirth, Assistant Professor of Psychology
Michael Hebbeler, Center for Social Concerns
Stephen Fredman, Professor of English
Maryam Meechka Zomorodian, Academic Advisor, First Year of Studies
Laura Walls, William and Hazel B. White Professor of English
Sandra Klein, Librarian, Kresge Law Library
Jennifer Nisevich, Notre Dame International
Christine Amstutz, Notre Dame International
Margaret Pfeil, Joint Appointment, Department of Theology and the Center for Social Concerns
Laura Bayard, Outreach Services Librarian
Jennifer A. Jones, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Faculty Fellow in the Institute for Latino Studies
Leslie L. Morgan, First Year of Studies & Africana Studies Librarian
Daniel A. Graff, Director, Higgins Labor Program
Nancy K. Stanton, Professor of Mathematics
Gena Robinson, Alliance for Catholic Education
Judith Benchaar, Administrative Assistant, Higgins Labor Program,
Ghada Bualuan, Associate Teaching Professor, Program of Arabic, Department of Classics
Lucien Steil, Associate Professor, School of Architecture
Kristin Shrader-Frechette, PhD, O’Neill Professor, Dept of Biological Sciences and Dept of Philosophy
Max Baker-Hytch, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Philosophy of Religion
David Lincicum, Associate Professor, Theology Department
Kate Morgan, Associate Director of Communications, Office of Campus Ministry
James Sterba, Professor of Philosophy
Catherine DeFauw, Administrative Assistant, Philosophy Department
Anne Jeffrey, Postdoctoral Fellow, Philosophy
