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The
Bush administration says the U.S. will accept 12,000 Iraq refugees
over the next 12 months.
This is one of the hundreds
of thousands of Iraqi families who have been forced to flee their
homes because of the war in their country. Some are lucky enough
to be able to stay with family or friends in other countries,
but many aren't that lucky. Since the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003,
the U.S. has taken in fewer than 2,000 Iraqi refugees. Over the
past year, the fighting in Iraq has worsened, and many more Iraqis
have fled their homes. Many people say that since the U.S. led
the invasion of Iraq, the U.S. should take more responsibility
for the refugee problem. Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to
Iraq, has criticized the U.S. government for not letting more
Iraqi refugees into the country. Now, Iraqi refugees who want
to come to the U.S. must wait up to 10 months to get here. Part
of the reason for this delay is that U.S. officials must interview
each refugee to make sure he or she isn't a threat to the U.S.,
and this process takes a long time. Mr. Crocker says that the
process of letting Iraqi refugees into the U.S. is too long and
complicated, and should be improved quickly. Recently, the Senate
passed a bill that they say will make it easier for Iraq refugees
to come to this country. And President Bush says that the U.S.
will take in 12,000 Iraqi refugees over the next year. Do
you think that is enough? Why or why not?
  
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