EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) — Nadim Fawzi Jouriyeh took part in a ceremony Sunday in Amman, Jordan, to mark the United States taking in its goal of 10,000 Syrian refugees in a year-old resettlement program.
By Wednesday, the 47-year-old former construction worker and his family were walking grocery aisles, stocking up on roasted chicken, milk and lemons for their new home outside San Diego. It didn’t take long for Jouriyeh, his 42-year-old wife and four children, ages 8 to 14, to feel welcome.
“America is a beautiful country,” he said through an Arabic translator at the office of the International Rescue Committee in El Cajon, a San Diego suburb that has drawn Iraqis and, more recently, Syrians fleeing war. “The way they treat people and the people of America are very nice. … When you go down the streets, everyone smiles at you. Even if they don’t know you, they just smile at you.”
San Diego, the nation’s eighth-largest city, has received 626 Syrian refugees since Oct. 1, more than any other in the U.S. Many smaller cities have accepted outsized numbers of Syrians, including Erie, Pennsylvania (205); Toledo, Ohio (109); and Boise, Idaho (108).
California and Michigan are neck-and-neck among states for receiving the most Syrian refugees, followed by Arizona, Texas and Illinois. Cities with large numbers include Chicago (469); Glendale, Arizona (384); Troy, Michigan; (325) and Dallas (293).
Refugees are typically assigned to cities where they have family and friends or where there is an established community of immigrants who share their culture, said David Murphy, executive director in San Diego for the International Rescue Committee, one of nine organizations that help refugees settle in the U.S.
In El Cajon, population 100,000, some store signs on Main Street are in Arabic. Merchants, bank tellers and schoolteachers speak the language. Three decades ago, an Iraqi Chaldean immigrant settled here and the effect “snowballed” into a large Arabic-speaking community, Murphy said. Iraqis have been coming for years, but Syrians are relatively new.
“It’s really kind of tough to know how they’re going to do. They haven’t been here long enough to start businesses or anything like that,” Murphy said. Jouriyeh, who left school after ninth grade in his native Homs to work, fled his war-ravaged city for Jordan in 2014. Daily bombings frightened the children as the Syrian government retook the city. Jouriyeh had to stay indoors for three days straight because it was too dangerous to go to work.
A drive to the Jordanian border that would normally take two hours required three days as the family tried to avoid roadblocks, arrest and crossfire. Jouriyeh said about 80 people were killed in his convoy.
Extensive vetting by the International Organization of Migration and the U.S. State and Homeland Security departments in Jordan led him to San Diego. The U.S. said it reached its target of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees in the 2016 fiscal year on Monday, more than a month ahead of schedule and the night Jouriyeh reached San Diego. The U.S. resettlement program focuses on the most vulnerable refugees, including those who are subjected to violence or torture or are sick.
Close to 5 million Syrians have fled since 2011. Most struggle to survive in tough conditions in neighboring countries, including Jordan, which has nearly 660,000 Syrian refugees. The U.S.’s future role may be tied to politics. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would suspend arrivals from Syria, portraying them as a potential security threat.
Jouriyeh said his priorities are to find a job, enroll his children in school and find permanent housing. He wouldn’t say if he would ever return to Syria. “We hope our children succeed in education and be able to have a good future here,” he said.
Their days are filled with chores like opening a bank account and getting a phone. The International Rescue Committee offers classes on English, job hunting and citizenship. While grocery shopping Wednesday, a Syrian vendor who arrived in 2010 introduced himself to Jouriyeh and asked about his journey. The strangers chatted pleasantly for a few minutes, then parted ways.
” It didn’t take long for Jouriyeh, his 42-year-old wife and four children, ages 8 to 14, to feel welcome”…. ESPECIALLY AROUND A POPULATION OF INDOCTRINATED “AMERICANS”…………………….
Frankly, I don’t give a crap about these refugees pouring into MY country because they are fleeing US perpetrated WAR torn areas!
I was not asked about my opinion on the matter of the US military killing and destroying other nations and then using it as a lame excuse to re colonize MY country.
A suggestion to all illegals and foreign immigrants, GET OUT while you still have breath in your lungs. You have countries/homelands that you belong in, not in mine. Another thing, I thought most of the middle east people were well aware that Israel is the instigator over there, and actually behind the killing and wrecking of your countries using stupid US military. So, you THAT KNOW are guilty for coming over here invading MY country while you use the excuse you are fleeing war torn areas.
I’m sorry for what the NATO military has done to you in the name of Israel, yet you are not welcome here, and you should know better than to invade My country.
“The way they treat people and the people of America are very nice. … When you go down the streets, everyone smiles at you. Even if they don’t know you, they just smile at you.”
You have not met a true American National yet that does NOT appreciate you being used to overtake MY country because when you do you will not be greeted with smiles you will be looked upon as the useful tool you are!
Katie- “The way they treat people and the people of America are very nice. … When you go down the streets, everyone smiles at you. Even if they don’t know you, they just smile at you.”
Yeah, they were smiling and happy too in the last Mark Dice video (love or hate him) as they were clueless who Joe Biden is.
No brain no pain! That;s more fun than no pain no gain.
“A suggestion to all illegals and foreign immigrants, GET OUT while you still have breath in your lungs. You have countries/homelands that you belong in, not in mine. ”
Right, The real Syrians stayed to defend the country in militias equipped by their elected leader. Most refugees IMO are anti Assad and pro FSA terrorists. How quaint! Thanks Bury Obama.
Just remember folks, the US of A destroyed their county.
Israel destroyed their country using their military. It just happens to be called America. They did it for oil in Golan Heights.
That’s what they get for living on precious natural resources. “Uhm, you need to vacate cause we’re gonna play in the sandbox now.” “We’ll get that nasty black liquid out of your soil and everything will be all better.” “We’ll make your leader super rich and back him militarily to oppress you, what a deal, huh!” I’m not talkin’ Middle East here. The whole planet is on their radar. If you got resources, you better watch the F’ out.