World Wide Travel Alert

On 23 November, the US State Department warned American citizens about possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats. The ISIS and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in many places. These attacks may target both official and private interests, including large sporting events, theaters, open markets, and aviation services.

U.S. citizens should be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions. Travelers should also stay in touch with family members at home and make sure that they know how to reach them in the event of an emergency.

What Do the Vietnamese Refugees in New Hampshire Think About the Syrian Refugees: Some Vietnamese people recently gathered at Phuoc Dien Temple in Manchester, New Hampshire, to honor Senator John McCain. McCain is a hero to this community because he introduced legislation that helped bring tens of thousands of Vietnamese to the U.S. after the war. “He’s a true war hero to us all!” said the Vietnamese emcee at the gathering.

But even Senator McCain believes that there we should not be in a hurry to approve Syrian refugee resettlement in the US. The reluctance to accept the Syrians is mainly because there is no way of knowing if any terrorists are going to be able to enter the US among the refugees.

One of the Vietnamese people at the New Hampshire gathering said that Syrian refugees are different than the Vietnamese. She said that some of them are evil, looking for something to destroy.

But another lady said that because she was a refugee herself, she has total compassion and sympathy for all the refugees from Syria, and she welcomes them if the US government can have very strict screening to keep out the terrorists.

Senator McCain said that Vietnamese refugees and Syrian refugees are different. There was never any indication that the North Vietnamese wanted to export any kind of terror or attacks into the United States of America. That is completely different from what we are facing in the form of ISIS. Senator McCain said, “I am in favor of admitting Syrian refugees. I just want to make sure we have the proper procedures to make sure that they are not going to commit acts of terror, because we know that’s what the ISIS leader wants to do.”

The director of the FBI has admitted that the U.S. government has no reliable way to conduct background checks on Syrian refugees. The data bases of the FBI and other US security agencies lack the necessary information needed to keep out potential terrorists.

The Canadian government has agreed to accept twenty five thousand Syrian refugees by the end of December, but the Prime Minister said Canada would only accept families, women and children, but not single males.

Obama asks the Supreme Court to decide as soon as possible on immigration measures: On 24 November, President Barack Obama sent a letter to the Supreme Court to ask the Court to set a date as soon as possible to decide on his Executive Actions regarding DACA and DAPA. Just a few days before that, 26 Republican states asked for a delay until January 20. That delay would prevent the case from being heard during the current court term. If the delay is approved by the Court, there would not be a decision on DACA and DAPA until June 2017, five months after Obama leaves office. The effect of such a delay would cause a great deal of frustration to the five million people who are awaiting DAPA and an extended DACA so that they can obtain work permits, drivers licenses and/or special permission to visit their countries of origin.

Mexican migrants are heading back home — and that's bad news for the U.S. economy: The Pew Research Center released a report in November. It says that more Mexican immigrants are leaving the United States and fewer are coming to work here. In Mexico, during the past ten years, families have had fewer children and young adults have found more job opportunities at home. Also, immigration enforcement and quotas on visas have made it more difficult for Mexican immigrants to bring family members to the United States. Why should we be concerned about fewer Mexican migrants in the US?

A growing U.S. economy depends on immigrant workers in various sectors. Mexican immigrants contribute a lot to our state and local economies, especially in construction, agriculture and various service sector jobs. More and more Americans are reaching retirement age, so the demand for immigrant workers will increase. There has been an increase in Asian migration to the US, but most of the Asians are not interested in the kinds of jobs that Mexican immigrants have in the US.
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Q.1. Is there some way to register with the US Consulate or Embassy when I’m travelling abroad?
A.1. You can enroll online for the STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). This is a free service to allow U.S. residents traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the Consulate. You provide your email address and overseas phone number. You will receive important information from the Consulate about local safety conditions. Also, this will help the U.S. Consulate contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency. And, it will help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. Details are at travel.state.gov.
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Q.2. What kind of background screening did the US government use for Vietnamese refugees have before they were accepted for resettlement in the States ?
A.2. The American government was never worried about terrorists coming from Vietnam to the US. There really was no background screening of most refugees. The US officials usually just relied on the statements that the refugees made when they were interviewed at the refugee camps.
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Q.3. What kind of Immigration changes can we expect in 2016?
A.3. If the Supreme Court cooperates with the White House about hearing the DACA and DAPA case, we may see a decision by June 2016. All of the other immigration and refugee matters will probably have to wait for a new president and new members of Congress in 2017.

ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com www.facebook.com/rmiodp
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru

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