These are the children we risk overlooking with the current immigration policies.
As parents, we strive to instill certain instinctual behaviors in our little ones. Cover your mouth when you cough. Sneeze into your elbow. Say “excuse me” if you bump into someone. But imagine if one of those lessons had to be, “raise your hands in surrender if you see a weapon.”
No child should ever have to instinctively raise their hands at the sight of what they fear could be a gun. Yet, this was the reality captured in a poignant image of a young Syrian girl who, mistaking a photographer’s camera for a firearm, raised her hands in fear.
This heartbreaking photograph was taken in 2014 at the Atmeh refugee camp in Syria. The little girl, traveling with her mother and siblings, had journeyed 90 miles from their home in Hama. The photographer, Ethan Carter, later explained, “I was using a telephoto lens, and she thought it was a weapon. When I looked at the image afterward, I recognized her fear—she had bitten her lip and lifted her hands. Typically, children either run away, hide their faces, or smile at a camera.”
Ethan further noted, “We must focus on the suffering of those in the camps, particularly through the innocent eyes of children. They reflect the profound emotions that adults may struggle to express.”
Currently, our nation is divided: some believe that strict immigration policies will enhance our safety, while others view them as a gross betrayal of American values. Reports indicate that the past administration halted all refugee processing for three months, including a suspension of Syrian refugee vetting indefinitely. This decision to close our borders will sadly be remembered as one of our country’s darkest moments.
Last year, an image of a young Syrian boy drowned while attempting to flee to safety also went viral. As I looked at it, I felt an overwhelming urge to cradle him as if he were my own child, but tragically, he was lifeless. He, along with his brother and mother, perished in the treacherous waters, desperate for a chance at survival.
These images are a stark reminder of the lengths to which families will go to escape violence and save their children. We are turning away from those in dire need. The reasoning behind refusing assistance and closing borders to immigrants from select nations is baffling.
The seven countries targeted by the previous administration’s ban—Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen—were selected based on claims of ongoing terrorist training. However, it’s worth noting that 15 of the 19 individuals involved in the 9/11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia, which was not included in the ban. Instead, it appears that countries with which the former president had business dealings were conveniently left off the list.
This is simply unacceptable. If you find yourself offering thoughts and prayers when faced with images of suffering children yet support closing our borders, it’s time to reconsider. We have entrusted a morally ambiguous businessman with immense power, surrounded by individuals lacking in relevant experience. The repercussions of this misguided, Islamophobic ban are clear.
These are fathers, mothers, families, and human beings. When fear dictates our actions, it blinds us to the injustices faced by others. We must strive to be on the right side of history for the sake of our children.
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Summary:
A powerful image of a young Syrian girl raising her hands in fear after mistaking a camera for a gun highlights the dire circumstances faced by children in refugee camps. This situation is compounded by controversial immigration policies that have drawn national division. As we grapple with these issues, it’s crucial to remember the humanity of those affected and strive for compassion rather than fear-based decisions.