Refugees escape violence and war, but anguish remains

Chicago Tribune ^ | May 9, 2017 | by Alison Bowen

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Abdulkarim Younes still can't sleep. Despite escaping the war that ravaged his Syrian hometown and surviving years in limbo in Jordan before arriving in Chicago as a refugee in January, he stays awake at all hours, awaiting calls from his family.

His mother and siblings, who hope to join him in the U.S., remain in Jordan.

The separation and uncertainty weigh on him as he waits for a reunion that might never come.

Refugees in Chicago are reporting more stress and fear following President Donald Trump's moves to restrict arrivals, including proposed bans on refugees and a reduction in the number allowed in the U.S. annually to 50,000 from 111,000. Mental health professionals say treating things like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are an integral part of helping refugees resettle and avoid isolation, depression or other unintended consequences, including radicalization.

"We're inundated," said Aimee Hilado, a therapist at RefugeeOne, a nonprofit that helps refugees integrate into Chicago. Hilado launched a program in January that trained more than 70 local therapists — whom she calls first responders — to treat immigrants and refugees.

For refugees, "this is an absolute repeat of what happened in their country of origin, feeling fearful that at any moment they're going to have to up and leave," said Joan Liautaud, senior director of clinical operations for Heartland Health Outreach.

Catholic Charities resettlement director Elma Kulovic described confusion and distress among refugees unlike anything she's seen in the 19 years she has worked at the organization. Even with the ban halted, refugees who have limited English or cannot read or write struggle to understand its implications, she said. Refugees are asking, "What's going to happen to us? Are they going to return us?"

[Oldeconomybuyer]

or other unintended consequences, including radicalization...,

Radicalization is the intended consequence of the globalists, and they're setting up chain migration from 3rd world islamic hell-holes. This needs to STOP.

[bk1000]

This “refugee” left his wife and children in that hell hole. These “men” are cowards. Sniveling cowards that should never be allowed in this country. Stay home and fight for your country. Protect your women and children. I guess those values are lost on the mohammedan.

[VR-21]

Smells of immigration scam.

[Noumenon]

Not unexpected from a culture that treats women with the same regard as a wheelbarrow full of bricks.

[Lurkinanloomin]

“What’s going to happen to us? Are they going to return us?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know I hope they do.......

[bgill]

he stays awake at all hours, awaiting calls from his family.

Horse hockey. Maybe he shouldn't have abandoned the family. Maybe he could tell them not to interrupt his sleep with their constant calls. Maybe he's a big fat liar and scamming US tax dollars.

[Truthoverpower]

GH I would say Chicago it’s probably almost as scary as almost any city in Syria. He’s he’s probably like oh my gosh what the hell did I leave