Adam Sadda: Refugees Make Nation Stronger
This article was originally published by the Reflector.
World Refugee Day is today, June 20, and I want my fellow North Carolinians to understand my story because it shows the power the refugee resettlement program brings to our state. Not only did North Carolina save my life, but like many other refugees who get that chance, I’ve spent my life since giving back to this great state.
That’s why I am sharing my experience — and why I am calling on our state and local elected officials to sign a letter to President Biden asking him to reinvest in the U.S. resettlement program. I came to Durham in 2013, seeking safety and a better life after fleeing genocide in my homeland, Darfur, in Western Sudan. At the time, I didn’t know much about North Carolina. But I am now proud and delighted to call it my home.
Restarting my life was not easy. I had some high school education, but I hadn’t had an opportunity to go to university because of the war. I found work at a factory helping to assemble transmissions for Toyota cars and pack the parts into boxes. I learned English and went to college — graduating from UNC Greensboro last year.
What people may not understand about refugees is that for people whose lives have been torn apart, every moment is an opportunity to rebuild — yourself and those around you. I’m a voluntary member of the City of Durham’s Citizens Advisory Committee, which examines public and community issues such as housing, public education and public transportation. I’ve worked as a volunteer translator with local refugee resettlement organizations, and in 2020, the Durham City Council presented me with an award for my contributions to the community through volunteer services.
The majority of Americans across the country and across party lines support refugee resettlement, and many have shown this support by welcoming people seeking safety. Refugees bring immense contributions to our communities and economy. Over the last 15 years, refugees contributed $124 billion to the American economy, including nearly $28 billion in taxes in 2021 alone. As many communities struggle with labor shortages in key professions, refugees play a critical role in bringing needed talent and expertise.
As of 2021, refugees in North Carolina had $1.2 billion in spending power, and contributed significantly as workers, consumers and taxpayers. I am so proud to be one of them. Here in Durham, we launched Durham Refugee Day to focus on the value of refugees in our community. At a time when an unprecedented 110 million people are forcibly displaced around the world, we know that America can continue to take a leadership role in welcoming refugees. It’s not only the morally right thing, but it also makes our community and our economy stronger.
My story is not unique. Every year this country resettles thousands of refugees from all over the world. But my story, I think, does show the importance of the program staying robust. The sad truth is that refugee resettlement is vulnerable to politics. It is incredibly important that leaders across the country let the administration know how valuable refugee resettlement is to the vitality of American communities. That’s why I’m calling on them to sign a public letter calling on President Biden to invest further in the resettlement program and ensure it is ready to withstand external pressures, refugee emergencies and political transitions for years to come.
Adam Sadda lives in Durham and is a Refugee Congress delegate for North Carolina and a Refugee Storytellers Collective member.
Continue reading this article here.