The French government has pledged Wednesday to increase the number of Middle Eastern refugees the country takes in each year, despite concerns raised by ultra-right nationalist leaders that the emigrants might pose a security threat.
French President Francois Hollande said in a speech to mayors from around France that the country will welcome 30,000 refugees over the next two years, an increase from the 24,000 he committed to accepting in September.
“Some people say the tragic events of the last few days have sown doubts in their minds,” Hollande said.
Hollande added that it is a “humanitarian duty” to help the throngs of refugees who have landed on European shores after fleeing conflict and hardship in countries like Syria and Afghanistan. He also stated that France plans to invest roughly $53.3 million to develop housing for the refugees.
The incoming migrants will undergo a thorough security check before entering the county, addressing the concerns from France’s largest opposition party, the ulra-right Front National.
Why would a jihadist who expressly rejects all notions of modern citizenship take his passport on a suicide mission?
So it gets found.
— Charlie Winter (@charliewinter) November 15, 2015
France’s decision to increase the number of Middle Eastern refugees sends a strong message to countries like Poland that are less willing to take in those who are fleeing their war torn countries, and to the growing number of American GOP governors that are attempting to block refugee resettlement in their home states.
Many of those U.S. governors believe ISIS fighters are mixed in with the refugees and plan to carry out terror attacks across the U.S., due to a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the men involved in the Paris attacks.
However, many immigration experts and political leaders have cast doubt on the connection between the terrorist attackers and the passports that were found since ISIS generally loathes the individuals fleeing Syria for Europe.
The interior minister of Germany, Thomas de Maiziere, believes that ISIS militants have likely planted the passport at the scene of the massacre at the Stade de France soccer stadium to implicate refugees.
“There are indications that this was a planted lead, but it still can’t be ruled out that this was indeed an ISIS terrorist posing as a refugee,” Maiziere told reporters.
Featured image via Twitter
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