Since President Trump was elected, there has been a sharp decrease in the number of refugees welcomed to the United States.  

In the three years that Mr. Trump has been President, Chris George, director of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven, said the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. has dropped from 85,000 to just 18,000.  

“President Trump does not like refugees,” Mr. George told East Rock Record reporters. 

The number of refugees admitted to the U.S. has dropped from 85,000 to just 18,000.  

Although President Trump doesn’t think refugees are important, they still deserve to be safe.Refugees often are forced to leave their homes because of danger or persecution. When they leave, said Mr. George, they can lose control over their lives. He said refugees are sometimes treated like animals.  

Just because someone is from another country does not mean we should treat them differently. They also have a right to life and a right to safety.  

One organization that helps welcome refugees and treat them with respect is IRIS. The organization helps settle refugees in New Haven and this year expects to welcome about 400, mainly from Afghanistan.  

IRIS helps provide refugees with apartments and donated furniture. They make sure refugees are picked up from the airport when they arrive and that they are welcomed with a meal cooked by refugees from their home country. 

If the refugees are from Afghanistan, this meal often consists of kabuli palaw, a basmati rice dish with pistachios, almonds, carrots and raisins. And also mantoo, a dish made with gow gee wrappers, onions, tomatoes, yogurt and herbs.  

“The whole idea is to give people a meal that they are familiar with as soon as they arrive,” said Mr. George.  “It’s already a shock to come to a really cold environment, and a place where no one speaks your language. It’s a nice way to welcome them with an appropriate meal.”  

IRIS also helps refugees sign up for English classes. It helps parents find jobs that don’t require a lot of English. IRIS also makes sure children find good schools.  

I think it’s important that IRIS offers these services because it helps refugees more quickly become comfortable in their new home. It is also important because it is a way to show respect.  

Mr. George said, “I have talked to some refugees — one from Iraq — and I asked, “Of all those things that IRIS does for you, what is most important?’ And he said, ‘Respect.’ ”  

IRIS is doing important work, but it’s only one organization. Every refugee should be welcomed to the United States in this way. I think that refuges are not supposed to suffer just to get to this country, and that seeking safety and transitioning into the U.S. should be easier.  

I think that refuges are not supposed to suffer just to get to this country, and that seeking safety and transitioning into the U.S. should be easier.

I also think that the President should let people from every country come to the U.S. because people from all over deserve a safe home. I hope that our next President will be more welcoming toward refugees.  

Edited by Kathryn Post, Emiliano Gómez.