You Don't Have to Live Like a Refugee Posted by Eric Martin

While I initially opposed the Iraq invasion, whatever position one held as to the wisdom of that decision at the time, and whatever one thinks of the costs vs. benefits in retrospect (though I tend to agree with my colleague Michael Cohen, as well as Matt Duss, that the costs have far, far outweighed the benefits), there should be less disagreement over the suggestion that we, collectively, owe the Iraqi people what respite and solace we can provide, within reasonable means.

In that light, it was quite disturbing to read Saurabh Sanghvi's Op-Ed detailing the dysfunctional process attendant to granting visas to those Iraqis that have cooperated with U.S government forces and, thus, have legitimate fears of retribution up to and including death (this process is an adjunct to other visa programs that are, in theory, available to displaced Iraqis more generally speaking).  Sanghvi highlights some of the truly labyrinthine bureaucratic obstacles encountered by those trying to secure a visa - a confounding process that has resulted in relatively few successful applications: 

Given such obstacles, it’s no surprise that relatively few people have successfully used the program: an Aug. 12 letter to the administration by 22 members of Congress noted that only 2,145 visas have been issued, even though the program has 15,000 available slots.

While some hurdles should remain in order to prevent fraud, Sanghvi offers commonsense tweaks that would do much to facilitate the process.  Regardless, if we are to err on one side, it should probably be letting in more Iraqis than fewer. Even if some of the Iraqi's gain entry "fraudulently," is there little doubt that conditions in Iraq, even post-Surge, are still quite horrific (with hundreds of civilians still dying each month in political violence) and, thus, that they are justified in seeking shelter abroad?

Granted that Americans can and do have good faith disagreements over the form and nature of any continued U.S. involvement in Iraq, and whether our nation can afford certain of the proposed prolonged commitments, these visa grants are a relatively affordable, and morally sound, offer of assistance to just a handful of the citizens of Iraq that have suffered so much over the past 7+ years. 

It is the least we can do. 

(hat tip to Andrea Nill)

Comments

[McKinneyTexas]

It is the least we can do.

Agreed.

Eric and I agree infrequently. Still, he's one of my favorite bloggers. He is a great addition to this site.

[Greg Sanders]

Quite agree, thanks for keeping this issue prominent.

On the issue of what we owe to the people of occupied countries, I also do spend some time thinking about the women of Afghanistan. Given our trouble getting refugee status for people who helped us in Iraq, let alone other innocents, I suspect that there are severe limits on what can be done via refugee programs with a U.S. destination. Nonetheless, while I think there is some moral obligation there, albeit a less direct one for women that haven't directly cooperated with the U.S. government. I'm really not sure what the best way to help them at the margin is, I don't think it's the war. On the other hand, I'm not sure how large of a population of Afghan women would want to be refugees to the U.S. in the event of Taliban factions joining the government or the like.

[Eric Martin]

Thanks McTex.

And Greg, good point. I've actually been asking around recently for some literature/ideas on what can be done from a non-occupation posture (assuming that same can't last forever).

I'll try to formulate a post at some point in the future.

[DJF]

How is the US suppose to turn Iraq over to the Iraqi’s and have it suppose to be a country moving toward being western type democracy if those Iraqi’s who are most westernized are moving to the USA? Sorry but they are Iraqis and need to stay in Iraq and build a new Iraq.

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If there is an urgent and unquestionable need, I think granting them visas is a harmless and useful thing to these Iraqis. Rebuilding Iraq is going to be a long and ardous process.

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