Second generation refugees actually do pretty well in the US. Lots of them go on to open up their own businesses. Look at the Vietnamese population in Texas for an example. Anyway, their support runs out I believe, after about 6 months if they're not in education.

They have to take the first job the employment teams at a refugee agency finds them or they get their benefits dropped as well. Obviously this doesn't include funding for the kids, but just try to keep the facts in mind. These really are the salt of the earth for the most part. They've seen some serious shit, and they are thoroughly screened coming into this country.

Most of this is anecdotal of course, but I have seen up close and first hand refugee communities. Somalians, Burmese, Congolese. Most of them just want a place to live where they won't be killed in the night, and where their kids have some semblance of hope for a future. For these people, the American dream exists. It's living and breathing.

We are a rich nation, with flaws I admit that we need to fix, but at the same time we made international obligations to help. It's a giant shit sandwich, I know. We should be focusing on building our economy, and helping our people, but don't forget that doing so also requires more social programs. That's how it starts. Building up our economy will take a shrewd skill, and a deft hand.

It's OK to be upset with these policies, to protest them, but please don't let that anger and frustration bleed over onto people that have already been through hell; In their own countries, again in the camps, and now being relocated into some of the most violent and impoverished neighborhoods we have.