Syrian refugee debate reignites in West Bloomfield

West Bloomfield Township has become the latest battleground between the two sides of the refugee debate as more displaced people from war-torn Syria hope to come to Metro Detroit.

When officials debated whether to keep a symbolic “Welcoming Community” designation to make refugees and others feel wanted, angry residents packed a township board meeting to voice their opposition.

On the other side of the issue, social service agencies serving the refugees have hosted community meetings and other events, presenting facts about Syria and its people in an attempt to dispel myths and allay concerns.

“The reality is much less scary than the perception,” said Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner, who moderated a Syrian refugee symposium Thursday at Christ Church Cranbrook.

The issue of allowing Syrian refugees has been controversial nationally and locally in recent months. President Barack Obama said he wants next year to take in 10,000 more Syrians who are escaping their country’s protracted civil war. In November, Gov. Rick Snyder temporarily suspended accepting Syrian refugees into Michigan after terrorist attacks in Paris and Lebanon. At least 22 other states followed suit.

Also in November, Meisner wrote a letter criticizing Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson for saying a Pontiac project to house Syrian refugees could allow Islamic State members to sneak into the community.

At Thursday’s refugee symposium, about 100 people listened to agency representatives describe the living conditions in Syria and the difficulties refugees experience coming to the United States and assimilating here.

Jeralda Hattar of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan said Michigan has taken in about 4,000 refugees from many countries annually over the past eight years. “Hopefully in 2016, we’ll resettle about 5,100 refugees,” she said.

Hattar and others stressed the vetting process for refugees is stringent: “The process is very detailed, particularly because Syrian, Iraqi and Somalis have an added step for security clearance.”

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security screen refugees, Hattar said.

Syrian refugee Wissam Al-Wad, who made dozens of shawarma sandwiches for a reception that followed the meeting, wants his new Metro Detroit neighbors to know his people are not a threat.

“We are just trying to escape the war and find peace,” the 31-year-old who came to the United States four months ago said through an interpreter.

Al-Wad’s relatives were tortured in Syria. He fled to Jordan, where he waited for four years before being assigned refugee status.

“Refugees are not terrorists; we are people, families, who are running from the war.”

Unwelcome designation

The church gathering came days after a raucous West Bloomfield Township board meeting, during which trustees voted to remain with 10 other Michigan communities as part of the Welcoming Cities and Counties initiative backed by Welcoming Michigan.

Dozens of residents lined up to express their opposition. At one point, officials threatened to clear the room if people didn’t stop shouting.

“There were about 125 people; about 110 were against the resolution,” board member Steve Kaplan said of the Jan. 25 meeting. “But people are mistaken. It’s just a symbolic resolution that says West Bloomfield treats all people fairly and respectfully. We don’t have the power to bring in refugees; that’s a federal issue.”

Resident Don Perry said the Welcoming Cities Initiative has aims that go beyond symbolism.

Welcoming America, the parent group of Welcoming Michigan, “states that their goal is to create policy, change systems and cultures,” he told the board. “To what end do they do that?

“They should have no part in any policy decision, or the systems and culture of this community. I do not want or need our culture changed to comport to the needs of a special interest group.”

Township treasurer Teri Weingarden said the meeting “made me want to cry.”

“We just want anyone who comes to West Bloomfield to feel welcome, and it saddens me that people would have a problem with that,” she said.

Arwa Abdujabbar, a therapist at ACCESS, a Dearborn agency that provides services to immigrants and refugees, including mental health aid, said the new arrivals should be made to feel welcome because of what they went through in Syria.

“These people have been exposed to war, to rape. They witnessed their parents being tortured. They have nightmares, mood swings. There’s a lot of anger and sadness — you can see it in their eyes.”

‘Us and them’

Since Jan. 1, 2015, there have been 275 Syrian refugees placed in Michigan, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System. Nine refugees live in West Bloomfield Township. Dearborn saw the biggest influx with 87, while 75 moved to Troy.

“Many of these refugees have some heartbreaking stories, and as a Jewish American, my family has similar stories to tell,” said Meisner, whose grandmother fled Russia from persecution by the Cossacks.

“Given my family history, for me to take a position against refugees is impossible,” Meisner said.

Resident Gene Smolyansky, a Jewish refugee who also fled Russia and came to the United States to avoid persecution, said Syrian refugees are different.

“We didn’t try to change the American system; we tried to absorb it,” said Smolyansky, who came to the U.S. in 1990. “That’s the difference between us and them. They want a little country inside the country. They don’t want to learn the language; they want us to bend to their culture.”

Reem Akkad of the Syrian American Rescue Network insisted the refugees are eager to assimilate: “We help them learn about becoming an American, and integrate into the society.”

Kaplan said it’s “ironic” that so many Jewish residents oppose refugees, when many of them or their relatives came to the United States to escape oppression.

“That point of view is emblematic of people saying now that we’re here, we don’t care about anybody else. Close the door behind me, Sam. It’s a paradoxical position to take.”

Fear is real

In the face of the criticism, social service and religious agencies are trying to educate the public about Syrian refugees

Last week, in addition to the symposium at Christ Church Cranbrook, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, the state’s largest refugee resettlement agency, and the Grosse Pointe Ministerial Association sponsored “movie night,” showing “Children of Aleppo” at the Okulski Theatre in Grosse Pointe Park.

The film, which aired on PBS’ “Frontline” last year, shows the journey of refugee children and their families trying to escape Syria.

After the movie, which was viewed by a packed house, there was a discussion about how to help refugees.

“We need to remember that fear is very real, and fear has the power to make people treat others inhumanely,” said Ken Fouty, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan community outreach coordinator.

“But courage is real, too. If we have the courage to reach out to people, and present them the facts, as opposed to emotion, maybe they’ll realize that these refugees have a lot to offer their communities.”

ghunter@detroitnews.com

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