Why Spencer Cox supports Biden’s plan to reset Ukrainian refugees in the United States

Utah Governor Spencer Cox states that accepting refugees from Ukraine is “the right thing for our country”, but also lessons learned from the continued resettlement of nearly 76,000 Afghans. I pointed out.

so Editorial published in Fortune MagazineCox presented some steps that other states should take under the influence of President Joe Biden Unity for the Ukrainian InitiativeThis streamlines the resettlement process for up to 100,000 eligible refugees.

Currently, Ukrainians sponsored by the United States are considered subject to humanitarian parole lasting up to two years.

In March, more than 5,000 Ukrainians entered the United States. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection dataThe majority of them applied for humanitarian parole or asylum at the US-Mexico border before Biden announced the program in late April.

“We have to be prepared, which means we have a close look at our resettlement capacity,” Cox wrote in Fortune. “We are already facing a sharp learning curve to coordinate the arrival of 76,000 Afghans across the United States. We have stood up to address this challenge, not only in Ukraine, but around the world. It lays the groundwork for future refugees from countries devastated by other wars. ”

What do Americans think?

Americans have shown widespread support for the acceptance of refugees from the war, with an estimated 5.5 million Ukrainians currently evacuating from the outside world. Recent Gallup Poll It turns out that 78% of Americans have approved Biden’s plan to resettle 100,000 Ukrainians.

These figures are reflected in Utah — at least 87% of voters in Utah support the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees. Deseret News / Hinckley Institute of Politics Poll..

Cox said Utah should expect “as many (refugees) as we can get” at his monthly press conference.

“If we can bring light to the world, we should do it,” he told reporters, but he did not know exactly when the Ukrainians would resettle in Utah through Biden’s program.

The Ukrainian crisis followed the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan, forcing nearly 125,000 people to evacuate in a chaotic manner. About 76,000 people eventually resettled in the United States — more than 900 in Utah — as with the situation in Ukraine, with widespread approval from the American people.

Polling from APM Institute Four in five Americans are in favor of helping Afghanistan who helped the U.S. military, and an additional 68% say they are ready to donate to resettlement efforts.

What should the state do?

In his editorial, Cox argued that the strong public support behind both resettlement efforts should motivate state leaders and outlines the successes and gaps in promoting Utah to accept Afghan refugees. increase.

Create a refugee service office

For 11 years, the Utah Refugee Services Office has been operating under the Labor Services Department to assist refugees after their first resettlement.

• The office aims to help refugees find employment and provides training for jobs in the healthcare, pharmacy and construction industries. When the training is complete, the office will match the candidate with the employer.
• The office also offers English and health services.

“By dedicating resources, especially to refugees, the state sends a strong message about the importance of energizing the most vulnerable newcomers,” Cox wrote.

Public-private partnership

This is a general copy from Utah politicians, and Cox states that it is an important step in the resettlement process and is affiliated with the private sector.

• Cox Afghanistan Community Fund As an example, we have raised over $ 1 million in donations with the support of companies.

“We saw many other companies and organizations in the state generously offering money and goods to support the resettlement process,” wrote the Governor of Utah.

• According to Cox, the private sector should also consider resettlement efforts as a way to alleviate labor shortages. Refers to research It shows that refugees are “faithful workers” and make up most of the essential workforce during a pandemic.

“There are companies in every state that are facing a labor shortage,” he writes. “Local governments can be a conduit between refugees looking for a job and companies that hold job fairs or need them, especially for refugees.”

“I need volunteers”

Cox donated their time to “ordinary citizens” and encouraged their new neighbors to adapt to life in the United States.

“Now we need volunteers who can teach English and help families navigate local services and decipher route maps,” he said. “… Invite new neighbors to dinner. Help them plant the spring garden. Join a community picnic or walking group.”