Myth: Refugees are a burden on their host countries
The skilled and talented refugees we’ve met have proven time and again that they are ready, able, and willing to work hard, to contribute to the communities where they live, and to make a life for themselves and their families. They are good people who’ve often come from successful lives and careers in their home countries.
This article affirms the draw of refugees to Germany had more to do with the possibilities to work and provide for themselves, rather than seeking welfare handouts.
Why Migration Will Not Destroy the Welfare State
“The million or so migrants who arrived in Europe in 2015 were desperate people suffering from various degrees of insecurity in their home country and nearby countries officially deemed “safe” but in reality far from so. Most were seeking the security of a new home, a place to live and work in safety. They were not engaged in welfare shopping.”
Alexander Betts has had many years of experiences working with refugees and has done his own research on the topic. The results he has come to back up these facts that refugees are a gift to society and not a burden. His TED talk is worth the 16 minutes to listen to it.
What if we Helped Refugees to Help Themselves?
“The speaker has extensive experience studying — through research with a specialized group at Oxford University — the topic of his talk: the economics, policy and outcomes of refugee hosting in countries across the globe. He presents his idea — that refugees are actually a boon to societies, not a burden — alongside detailed analysis of his findings, with supporting visuals, stories and data. His talk is clear, direct and passionate.”
And, this article further backs up the research that refugees can have a profoundly positive impact on the countries where they settle.
Refugees Can be an Investment Rather than a Burden
“From Denmark to Uganda to Cleveland, studies have found that welcoming refugees has a positive or at least a neutral effect on a host community’s economy and wages.”
Written by Megan Carson
My First Asylum Case: An Attorney's Perspective on Asylum in the United States
I took my first asylum case in 2016, when our national dialog on immigration took a decidedly negative turn. As a corporate attorney, I had no experience in immigration law, but my license allowed me to represent individuals fleeing severe persecution and I signed with a local non-profit to offer my help. My first asylum client was a young mother and her two small daughters. I could see myself in Saba.
Their Story is Our Story Applauds the Signing of Virginia House Bill 995 and Continues Efforts to Open Doors for Foreign-trained Medical Professionals in Other States
Their Story is Our Story (TSOS), a non-profit organization that collects and shares the experiences of refugees to deepen understanding and influence action, applauds the signing of Virginia House Bill 995 into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin, after its unanimous passage through the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. It will create a pathway for foreign-trained doctors who have immigrated to the state, including those whose careers were interrupted by forcible displacement, to fill workforce gaps in medically underserved communities.
Idaho One Refugee Conference
Last fall I was able to attend the 1Refugee Conference in Idaho. The event was well organized and everyone who approached our table was interested in what we did and wanted to know how to get involved. There were at least 100 students majoring in a variety of things who attended the event and we had 20 students give us their contact information. Most were interested in our internship programs.