Biden and Harris are missing a big opportunity on Ukraine crisis
Opinion by Mark Hetfield
Updated 2305 GMT (0705 HKT) March 14, 202
CNN: Biden and Harris missed a good opportunity in the Ukraine crisis
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(CNN) On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris met with Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Then, when asked by a reporter whether the United States would accept Ukrainian refugees here in the United States, she made no clear commitment to resettle any.
U.S. Vice President Harris met with Ukrainian refugees in Poland on Thursday. Asked by reporters if the U.S. would accept Ukrainian refugees already in the U.S., she made no explicit commitment.
Harris, herself the daughter of immigrants, should reflect on the words of her predecessor, Al Gore, uttered nearly a quarter of a century ago.
As a descendant of immigrants, Harris should think hard about the words of her predecessor, Gore (former vice president of the United States), about a quarter of a century ago.
In April 1999, some 600,000 Kosovar refugees fled Serbian attacks into neighboring countries. The United States rose to the occasion, joining NATO and European allies in protecting the Kosovars, including by evacuating them to safe havens.
In April 1999, 600,000 Kosovars were turned into refugees as a result of Syria's attack on neighboring countries. The United States responded calmly by joining NATO and the European Union to protect The Kosovars, including by evacuating them to safe havens.
That month, then-Vice President Al Gore announced on Ellis Island, "We will accept, on the American mainland, up to 20,000 of the hurting and homeless Kosovar refugees -- those with close family ties in America, and those who are vulnerable. We will bring them here until they are able to return safely."
gore
That month, then-Vice President Gore announced on Alice Island: "We will accept more than 20,000 injured and homeless Kosovo refugees on U.S. soil, those with family members in the United States, and those who may be harmed." We'll bring them here until they can return safely. ”
But this time, there has been no Ellis Island announcement, just Harris saying, "As we have said many times through our work collectively in the UN through NATO, we will support Poland in terms of the burden it is facing and our collective responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of these refugees."
But this time, there was no Alice Island Declaration. Harris simply said: "As we have reiterated many times at the United Nations through NATO cooperation, we will support Poland in accordance with the burdens that Poland faces, as well as our shared responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of these refugees. ”
In other words, Harris said America will support Ukrainian refugees staying in Europe.
In other words, harris is saying that the United States supports Ukrainian refugees staying in Europe.
The next morning, President Joe Biden was more welcoming, though cryptic, saying in a televised Roosevelt Room address, "And I will welcome the Ukrainian refugees. We should welcome them here with open arms if they need access..."
The next morning, in a televised address at Roosevelt Studio, President Joe Biden said more enthusiastically, but also more cryptically: "We welcome Ukrainian refugees." We open our arms to them if they need to come..."
"If they need access"?
"If they need to come?"
Two hours later, addressing the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference in Philadelphia, Biden clarified -- a little -- by saying, "We're going to welcome Ukrainian refugees with open arms if, in fact, they come all the way here."
In his speech two hours later, Biden put it a little more clearly: "We are ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees with open arms, if they have actually arrived in the United States by various means." ”
Biden was an original sponsor of the Refugee Act of 1980, which established the US refugee resettlement program. He must know that, according to the act, he alone has the authority to decide whether Ukrainian refugees will be allowed to "come all the way here."
Biden was the original sponsor of the 1980 Refugee Act, which defined the resettlement process for refugees in the United States. Under the bill, he himself had the right to decide whether Ukrainian refugees were allowed to "reach the United States by various means."
Words matter, actions matter. When it comes to refugees and leadership, the United States is falling short on both fronts. It is getting late, but the Biden-Harris administration still has an opportunity to demonstrate American leadership by welcoming refugees -- instead of relying on Eastern Europe to shoulder that responsibility alone.
Listen to what he says and watch his deeds. When the refugee issue and the leadership problem came, the United States did not stand up. It's late, but the Biden Harris administration still has a chance to demonstrate American leadership by welcoming refugees rather than relying on Eastern Europe to take responsibility.
If Biden had given her the leeway, when Harris met with refugees in Poland, she could have demonstrated US leadership by taking action. Like Gore did, she could have promised Europe that the United States would also open its doors to refugees until it is safe for them to go home. Or Biden, the next day, could have said that he would personally make sure that Ukrainian refugees would be allowed to come "all the way here."
If Biden authorized her, harris would demonstrate American leadership through action when she met with refugees in Poland. Like Gore, she should promise Europe that the United States will open its doors to refugees until they can safely return home. Or Biden, on the second day, would say that he himself promised that Ukrainian refugees would be allowed to "come here in every way."
The White House appears to be looking to Europe to lead on the Ukraine refugee crisis.
The White House seems to want Europe to dominate the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
Some Ukrainians are attempting to transit through Mexico to the United States. They face the risk of being turned away under Title 42, a Trump-era policy that uses the pandemic as an excuse to deny entry at the border. Imagine if European countries used Covid-19 as an excuse to push Ukrainians back into a war zone? End Title 42. And end it for all asylum seekers, not just Ukrainians.
Some Ukrainians have tried to enter the United States through Mexico. They face the risk of being blocked under Decree No. 42, a Trump-era policy that uses the pandemic as an excuse to deny entry to the U.S. border. Can you imagine if European countries used covid-19 as an excuse to push Ukrainians back into war zones? Termination of Decree No. 42. For the sake of all asylum-seekers, not just Ukrainians, terminate Decree No. 42.
On Monday, Biden tweeted, "We will welcome Ukrainian refugees with open arms." Now he must lead by example.
It is time to show the world once again that refugees are welcome in the United States.
On Monday, Biden tweeted: "We will welcome Ukrainian refugees with open arms." ”
Now he must set an example and show leadership. It is time to show the world once again that the United States welcomes refugees.
Original https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/14/opinions/refugees-policy-united-states-ukraine-hetfield/index.html