It’s not about immigration

Regarding the Monday letter, “Can we afford to help refugees?”:

Enough about Obama’s earmarking $20 million for Palestinians to come to the U.S. It’s simply untrue. In January of 2009, the U.N. called on all countries to contribute money to help refugees in this area. They asked for $614 million total. Obama pledged $20.5 million. $12.5 million is going to the U.N.’s relief work in that area, the rest to the Red Cross and Humanitarian Affairs. There is nothing in this contribution helping people emigrate to the U.S. or resettle as citizens or any of the other rumors flying around. It is simply foreign aid to a desperate population.

Now whether you agree with this foreign aid, well, that’s your call, but please don’t start shouting about how we are importing Palestinians into the country at our expense. And please remember that President Bush earmarked $30 million for similar aid to Africa’s refugees in 2007.

Jen Brown

Lynnwood