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Metro Detroit Welcomes Syrian, Iraqi Refugees

DETROIT (WWJ) - Metro Detroit is opening its arms to refugees from war-torn sections of Syria and Iraq.

Though an interpreter and with her young daughter by her side, Ghouson Al Hassan fought back tears as she told WWJ's Vickie Thomas about how she, with her four children, fled Syria after her 27-year-old brother was murdered and kidnappings for ransom continued to rise.

"She wants to let everyone know, and especially here, that (the people of) her community are not happy. They're destroying everything," the interpreter said. "She said: We lost our houses; we lost everything we owned there. And she...not just even lost her brother. but her stepmom — they went inside the house and killed her too."

Al Hassan thanked the nonprofit group ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services) for helping her and other refugees escape to safety in the U.S.

Omar Zadoyan
Omar Zadoyan is a refugee from Iraq (credit: Vickie Thomas/WWJ)

Also now living in metro Detroit, Omar Zadoyan fled Iraq about a year ago.

"For the people of Syria and any country...we are human," Zadoyan said. "If I'm from Iraq and you're from (the) United States and him from Syria...we are human."

What about those whom object to the influx of refugees?

Madiha Tariq, Public Health Manager for ACCESS, offered these thoughts:

"This county is made by immigrants and refugees, and Arab Americans play a huge role in the form and fiber of this country," she said.

Michigan already has one of nation's largest Middle Eastern populations in the nation, and Gov. Rick Snyder says he "would love to see it grow."

Speaking in Lansing last week, Snyder, a Republican, said Michigan should expect to an influx of Syrians in the coming months as he continues talks with federal officials about the role the state can play in taking more refugees.

Meantime, others in the GOP stand staunchly on the other side of this issue. This includes presidential candidate Ted Cruz who said allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S. is "crazy."

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