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Breanna Hurdsman

Mrs. Jackie Burr, Instructor

English 2010, Section 5

30 March 2017

Refugees in Utah

Each year, the number of refugees that immigrate to Utah increases. In 2015, 1,170

refugees entered the state from 32 different countries (Utah Department of Health). Refugees

leave their home, family, and

friends to start a new life in a

location where they are granted

freedom and a life that has more to

offer. Refugees also move to get

away from danger and violence.

They believe that living anywhere other than the refugee camp will create a better life for them.

According to an anonymous source, due to the limited amount of refugees who can receive

entrance into Utah and the programs put in place for them currently, refugee life may not be as

easy as it seems.

When refugees first enter Utah, they are put into specific programs to help them get used

to life in Utah. While many refugees believe that once they enter the United states, they will be

able to see their family and friends immediately. However, it is highly encouraged that refugees

stay in their initial location for 90 days after they are placed in their resettlement area. This
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ensures that they receive the services that the program allows for up to five years (Bloem and

Loveridge 26).

Most refugee programs do not allow refugees to go state shopping. State shopping is

when refugees go in search of a location where they stand the best chance of becoming

self-sufficient (Bloem and Loveridge 26). State shopping is discouraged because the programs

believe that the refugees are already given enough by having the chance to enter the country. The

programs that refugees are put into assist with financial aid, such as Medicaid. The programs

also help refugees find jobs as soon as possible.

Community services are also put in place to assist refugees in their new settlement.

These community services can provide refugees with daily hygiene supplies that they need,

employment assistance, help learning a new language, and meals for the refugees. Volunteers

also come to comfort and listen to the stories of refugees.

While the state of Utah is very supportive of refugees entering the state and are eager to

help them, the national level is currently not as

supportive. Since the ban on refugees from

seven different countries has been put into

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place, there have been many protests from all around the world. For example, the image below is

from a protest in Canada that wanted refugees to be allowed to enter their country. The sign

reads, Refugees welcome, which portrays their support and plea to let refugees in.

Another example of this is when President Donald Trump imposed the ban on multiple

Muslim countries. Most

states were not particularly

happy about this decision,

but Utah was by far one of

the most upset states over

this decision. Hundreds of

Utah residents came to the

Capitol to protest. There

was a wide range of

people, ranging from little children to the elderly and people of all different ethnicities. This

image shows everyone at the protest with their signs and pleas, wanting refugees to be allowed to

enter Utah.

The travel ban is not only affecting the residents of Utah, it is also tearing families apart

from hundreds of thousands of miles around the world. An interview conducted by Christopher

Smart of The Salt Lake

Tribune portrays the

intensity of the situation.

The image to the left is

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from an interview with Rita, a refugee from Africa that is waiting for her sister to come to the

United States. However, due to the travel ban imposed by Trump, her sister cannot enter the

country yet. Rita encounters many daily struggles, along with most other refugees who enter the

United States. She became very emotional as she displayed the pictures of her sister back in her

native country. Rita is eager to be reunited with her sister, but she does not know if that will ever

be possible while President Trump is in office. Ritas story is similar to thousands of refugees

stories, who are unable to contact their relatives or be with them currently.

Although many of the stories of refugees are very tragic, there are ways that people in the

community and state can help them. According to United Way of Salt Lake, there are many

simple and easy ways to assist refugees in getting used to the new country and state. One way to

do this is to assist with their physical health.

Many refugees that enter the United States come with an illness. According to the Utah

Department of Health, between January 1st and December 31st of 2015, 301 refugees tested

positive for Tuberculosis, HIV, Hepatitis B, STD, Parasites, or Blood Lead.

The mental health of refugees also needs to be considered. Many refugees have

experienced traumatizing experiences and suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Bureau of

Epidemiology). This disorder causes them to have anxiety that things in the past which have

traumatized them will happen again. They are constantly living in a state of fear. However, an

anonymous source states that the community can help them by becoming their friend and not

deserting them.

Aside from health matters, there are five easy ways to help refugees get used to living in

a new location. The first way the community can help is by showing love and support. Most
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refugees have experienced many traumatizing, violent, and dangerous situations. They have left

loved ones behind and because of the travel ban, many are unsure if they will ever be able to see

their families again. Community members can help by volunteering at the local refugee centers

and being kind to those they meet.

While volunteering at the refugee centers, community members can listen to the stories of

refugees and empathize with them. Refugees do not have many people who are willing and able

to just sit down and have a conversation with

them, because they are more concerned with their

physical needs than their emotional needs.

Community members are a good source because

they are freely giving up their time for this reason.

One project which I, personally, have completed is

making kits for refugees. The kits can include

inexpensive shoes, deodorant, shampoo and soap,

more necessary hygiene items, and a nice message

that will uplift the person who receives it. These

kits can make a refugees day and transition to the

United States so much easier.

While working on projects for refugees,

community members should seek out the best

ways to reach out to refugees. They should also

invite others to join. The more community

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members that help, the more unified the community and refugees become.

Refugees are human too and deserve to be treated that way. By doing these simple things,

community members can greatly improve the quality of a refugees life and be remembered for

the kindness and service freely given to the refugee. Each small and simple act can have a major

effect on a refugees life.

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Works Cited Page

Anonymous. Personal interview.

Bloem, Jeffrey and Scott Loveridge. "The Secondary Migration of Refugees Resettled in the
US." Forced Migration Review, no. 54, Feb. 2017, pp. 26-28. EBSCOhost. Web.
13 March 2017.

"Bureau of Epidemiology." Utah Department of Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

Department of Health. "Complete Health Indicator Report of Refugee Arrivals." IBIS-PH -

Complete Health Indicator Report - Refugee Arrivals. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar.
2017.

"Help Refugees in Utah." Uw.org/211. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

Katherine, Yun, et al. "Increasing Hepatitis B Vaccine Prevalence among Refugee Children
Arriving in the United States, 2006-2012." American Journal of Public Health,
vol. 106, no. 8, Aug. 2016, pp. 1460-1462. EBSCOhost. Web. 13 March
2017.

Leonard, Wendy. "Many Utah refugees frightened by impending executive order."

DeseretNews.com. Deseret News, 11 Mar. 2017. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

Smart, Christopher. The Salt Lake Tribune. "Young refugee loves life in U.S., but wonders about
fate of sister left behind." The Salt Lake Tribune. N.p., 13 Mar. 2017. Web. 15
Mar. 2017.