For Syrian refugees, faith groups want a US welcome mat

Religious groups are pushing back against a wave of opposition toward Syrian refugees and working to preserve the U.S. as a haven for them.
“We’re really in emergency mode,” said Jen Smyers, director of policy and advocacy for the Immigration and Refugee Program at Church World Service, one of the nine U.S. nonprofits that work with the federal government to resettle refugees.

“We’re talking to the media nonstop. We are sending letters and petitions and making phone calls to all the governors as well as to members of Congress right now,” she said. “Every voice is needed to make sure they understand just how important the resettlement program is.”

The Refugee Resettlement Program -- which relies mostly on faith-based organizations to find homes, jobs and schools for refugees -- is under attack, a casualty of the Islamic State group’s assaults on Paris Friday (Nov. 13) that killed 129 people.