Since the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has identified nearly five million displaced people. Debate throughout the world, and especially in the US, has centered on what exactly to do with this mass influx of refugees seeking a new life outside of war-torn Syria. Other European and Middle-Eastern countries have done already done their part; Turkey has accepted 2.2 million, Lebanon 1.6 million, and Jordan six hundred and thirty thousand. We should welcome them with open arms; it’s our responsibility as Americans and as human beings.

Central to the opposition for allowing refugees into America is fear of Paris-esque terror attacks on our home soil. In reality, refugees, especially those hailing from Syria, are vetted more than any other immigrant before arriving in the US. The vetting process includes background checks and interviews with nine different government agencies. This process takes at least 18 months. It would be much easier for a potential terrorist to enter the country by, for example, applying for a green card. Contrary to popular belief, multiple sources including the International Monetary Fund, have proven that migrants and refugees actually improve the economies of the countries they immigrate to. The Migration Policy Institute has also shown that of the 784,000 refugees admitted to the US since 9/11, only two people have been arrested for terrorist activities, and neither of those people were responsible for harming anyone. That’s a rate significantly lower than the percentage of American citizens arrested for terrorism.

Regardless of the potential risks, accepting refugees is our ethical responsibility, as it is for all wealthy countries around the world. This nation was built on immigrants, on those fleeing persecution and war. Turning our backs on those who need us most is as hypocritical as it is cruel and unworthy of a nation that claims to be a force for good, for justice, for compassion. We claim to be a people of principle, of empathy and conscience, let’s act like it. Accepting refugees is our nation’s moral prerogative.

Since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War and the death of Osama and removal of our troops, our world has been rife with rampant terrorism and violence all over the Middle East. Threats from ISIS, Iran, and Iraq have brought the world to the verge of imploding. One of the major issues is the implementation of immigration policies from these warring nations. The problem being the US has no way to vet (or check for legitimacy) these incoming refugees, yet still, we bring them in. And in doing so, according to Washington Post and the Washington Examiner, we spend nearly $1.56 billion dollars on these immigrants. There is now a need to restrict these incoming refugees until we have a proper way to deal with them.

These refugees travel several thousand miles in order to find solace, yet why don’t the European countries bring them in? Why does the US extend its hand when the neighboring countries to Syria and Iran deny access. The only few countries accepting refugees, like Germany, according to Breitbart, have experienced mass hysteria and crime due to the new influx of people.

The US cannot afford to continue to take in these immigrants. Presently, it is not our problem. We are continents away from this conflict. It’s up to the European nations who surround Syria and the warring nations to solve this for themselves. The money we spend on immigrants to resettle and give them the benefits of citizens, without actually being citizens, can be used to resettle homeless vets or to put towards other American beneficial programs.

A simple Google search will prove that in this recent decade, terrorism in Europe has increased tenfold. Terrorism and other violence, like rape and sexual assault, has been a prevalent crisis in Germany, UK, and France, and the majority of offenders, according to Washington Post’s report of over 1,000 rapes on New Year’s Eve are refugees and immigrants. This crisis has come to the point where the German government has begun to tell it’s female citizens to “be prepared” in the case of sexual violence, according to Breitbart. This is not to say that ALL refugees and immigrants are rapists, that ALL immigrants are terrorists. We are a country built on immigrants, yet we need to be careful in this ever-changing world. There are those out to destroy the free world and in no way should we let our guard down to help those who should be controlled by local nations. Not nations halfway across the world.

The United Nations has registered nearly 4.8 million Syrian refugees. According to a statement by the White House, the US has only taken in about 10,000. Many of them are Muslim. For that reason and more, politicians are afraid that terrorists, such as those from ISIS, will sneak into the United States. However, each refugee goes through an in-depth background check. In addition, the few major terror acts in the United States that were done in the name of ISIS were done by citizens, not refugees.

We should accept the refugees and welcome them with open arms. They add workers to the workforce and more citizens to the community to contribute and pay taxes to the government. While they may have to rely on benefits at first, an article by the Economist shows within 15-20 years, they’ll pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits. Whether or not they should get those benefits, though, is a different story.

It is our moral duty to let the refugees in. We should not let them die in a war they didn’t want to be a part of. Many middle eastern nations refuse to take these people in, so someone has to. For those who simply don’t like the idea of a new wave of immigrants coming to the country, remember that this country was founded by immigrants. Together, we will make a stronger America.