There seems to be a lot of misinformation and outright lies being perpetuated about the refugee process and the Syrian refugees. I would like to give you some true information I obtained from an immigration lawyer who has been specializing on matters of immigration for over two decades.

Currently the refugee screening process is multi-layered and is very difficult to get through. Most people languish in temporary camps for months to even years while they are waiting to be evaluated and checked. Our system works in its current state; it surely doesn’t need to be tweaked or torn apart by Congress.

Did you know that you don’t get to choose what country you might get resettled into? If you already have legal family in a country that makes it more likely that you will get to go there to be with family, but other than that, it truly is random. There is no such thing as walking into a camp, showing a document, and say, I want to go to America. Many refugees are not interested in resettlement, as they hope to return to their country and are hoping the turmoil they fled will be resolved soon. In fact, most refugees in refugee camps never resettle into a third country.

Resettlement is an extensive and arduous process resulting in many hurdles to overcome. There are three levels of priority in a tiered system that evaluates refugees.

First priority is people who have suffered compelling persecution or for whom no other durable solution exists.

Second priority is groups of “special concern” to the United States. At present, we prioritize certain persons from the former Soviet Union, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Iran, Burma, and Bhutan.

Third priority is relatives of refugees – parents, spouses, and unmarried children under 21 – who are already settled in the United States.

Before being allowed to come to the United States, each refugee must undergo an extensive interviewing, screening, and security clearance by various agencies involved in the process. Just because one falls into the three priorities above does not guarantee admission to the United States.

Each person accepted as a refugee for planned admission is conditional upon passing medical examination as well as the security checks.

Before departing, refugees are required to sign a promissory note to repay the United States for their travel costs. This travel loan is an interest-free loan that all refugees begin to pay back six months after arriving in the country.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the United States has admitted over 2,300 refugees from Syria alone without any problems.

The immigration process in Europe is different. We should be much more concerned that terrorists are infiltrating the European territories because they are not nearly as thorough and extensive in their vetting process. This process, I’m sure will be looked into and changed in the very near future due to the tragic events that have been taking place.

The Republicans in Congress quickly jumped at the chance to start the fearmongering amongst the population; by producing a bill, H.R. 4038, The American SAFE Act, which would effectively shut down the U.S. Syrian refugee resettlement program. The program in place works! Don’t try to fix something that isn’t broke.

The other day, while on Facebook, one of my online friends had written a thoughtful post with deep insights regarding what we have and what the refugees lost; and I want to share a small piece of it, with her permission of course. “I’m asking you to stop thinking and politicizing around the idea that we just can’t help before we’ve taken care of our own. Because there is no such thing as ‘our own.’ Every human is our own. Every hungry child, grieving mother, frightened husband, and weary grandmother is our own. Nobody gets to pretend our world is a different world from the world that creates civil wars, bombs, and hunger. We are all towing this same precarious, shifting, tightrope line of a life. Anyone can fall at any time. All there is to catch us is each other.”

These words hit home to me, as I think most of you will identify with it as well. Later this week is Thanksgiving and I will be celebrating with family, being thankful that we can be together sharing a meal.

From my family to yours, be thankful for what you have because you never know when it will be gone. Pay it forward when you can.

Cath Kestler is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com