the refugee process first let’s look at it who is a refugee a refugee is someone
it who is a refugee a refugee is someone
it who is a refugee a refugee is someone who flees his or her country because of
who flees his or her country because of
who flees his or her country because of persecution because of violence and
persecution because of violence and
persecution because of violence and because of war the United States of
because of war the United States of
because of war the United States of America has the strongest vetting
America has the strongest vetting
America has the strongest vetting process in the world I will give you an
process in the world I will give you an
process in the world I will give you an insight of that process the process I
insight of that process the process I
insight of that process the process I went through when an individual flees
went through when an individual flees
went through when an individual flees his country he goes he or she goes to a
his country he goes he or she goes to a
his country he goes he or she goes to a nother country that country is
nother country that country is
nother country that country is considered the secondary country when
considered the secondary country when
considered the secondary country when they get into the secondary country they
they get into the secondary country they
they get into the secondary country they will have to register with the United
will have to register with the United
will have to register with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
Nations High Commission for Refugees
Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR when they register with the UN the
UNHCR when they register with the UN the
UNHCR when they register with the UN the UN will have to obtain all the
UN will have to obtain all the
UN will have to obtain all the identifying biometrics the UN will get
identifying biometrics the UN will get
identifying biometrics the UN will get the bio-data that UN will interview them
the bio-data that UN will interview them
the bio-data that UN will interview them and of all the refugees that will go
and of all the refugees that will go
and of all the refugees that will go through that process
through that process
through that process less than 1% will come to the United
less than 1% will come to the United
less than 1% will come to the United States lucky me
States lucky me
States lucky me and only the strongest applicants will
and only the strongest applicants will
and only the strongest applicants will move forward to the various agencies of
move forward to the various agencies of
move forward to the various agencies of the United States government those
the United States government those
the United States government those agencies are the National
agencies are the National
agencies are the National Counterterrorism Center that’s the first
Counterterrorism Center that’s the first
Counterterrorism Center that’s the first agency the refugee will go and get
agency the refugee will go and get
agency the refugee will go and get interview by the officials of that
interview by the officials of that
interview by the officials of that Center they are specific to the area all
Center they are specific to the area all
Center they are specific to the area all the enquiries all the interviews will be
the enquiries all the interviews will be
the enquiries all the interviews will be specific to that area should their booth
specific to that area should their booth
specific to that area should their booth should they pass the screening they will
should they pass the screening they will
should they pass the screening they will move to the FBI the FBI will also be
move to the FBI the FBI will also be
move to the FBI the FBI will also be very specific and they’re lucky and go
very specific and they’re lucky and go
very specific and they’re lucky and go beyond that they go over to the
beyond that they go over to the
beyond that they go over to the Department of Homeland Security they
Department of Homeland Security they
Department of Homeland Security they will also do their screenings their
will also do their screenings their
will also do their screenings their interviews their biometrics their data
interviews their biometrics their data
interviews their biometrics their data whatever it is
after Homeland Security they will go to
after Homeland Security they will go to the State Department the State
the State Department the State
the State Department the State Department will conduct their interviews
Department will conduct their interviews
Department will conduct their interviews and their security checks after the
and their security checks after the
and their security checks after the State Department you go back to the
State Department you go back to the
State Department you go back to the Homeland Security but this time you’ll
Homeland Security but this time you’ll
Homeland Security but this time you’ll be interviewing with USCIS United States
be interviewing with USCIS United States
be interviewing with USCIS United States Immigration Services and they will
Immigration Services and they will
Immigration Services and they will interview you and go through their
interview you and go through their
interview you and go through their security checks and if you’re lucky then
security checks and if you’re lucky then
security checks and if you’re lucky then you go through medical and it’s grueling
after medical you go through what we
after medical you go through what we call the cultural orientation that is
call the cultural orientation that is
call the cultural orientation that is you’re almost there you almost able to
you’re almost there you almost able to
you’re almost there you almost able to come to the United States this process
come to the United States this process
come to the United States this process can take anywhere from eighteen months
can take anywhere from eighteen months
can take anywhere from eighteen months to two decades after you go through the
to two decades after you go through the
to two decades after you go through the culture orientation you have a final
culture orientation you have a final
culture orientation you have a final screening to go through and prior to
screening to go through and prior to
screening to go through and prior to coming to the u.s. that final screening
coming to the u.s. that final screening
coming to the u.s. that final screening will go will be done will be conducted
will go will be done will be conducted
will go will be done will be conducted by the US Customs and Border Protection
by the US Customs and Border Protection
by the US Customs and Border Protection national targeting center what is that
national targeting center what is that
national targeting center what is that have you all heard about it yeah
have you all heard about it yeah
have you all heard about it yeah refugees will have to go through that
refugees will have to go through that
refugees will have to go through that after all of that I’ll be honest with
after all of that I’ll be honest with
after all of that I’ll be honest with you with all the culture orientation and
you with all the culture orientation and
you with all the culture orientation and all it never prepared me for coming to
all it never prepared me for coming to
all it never prepared me for coming to Montana never did
Montana never did
Montana never did cuz I came here in February February 17
cuz I came here in February February 17
cuz I came here in February February 17 will make me 23 years here all of those
will make me 23 years here all of those
will make me 23 years here all of those the screening processes I just mentioned
the screening processes I just mentioned
the screening processes I just mentioned happen outside of the US in that
happen outside of the US in that
happen outside of the US in that secondary country that you fled to so
secondary country that you fled to so
secondary country that you fled to so none of it happens within here so it
none of it happens within here so it
none of it happens within here so it took me two years and seven months to go
took me two years and seven months to go
took me two years and seven months to go through my process and I thought that
through my process and I thought that
through my process and I thought that was terrible that was wrong they kept me
was terrible that was wrong they kept me
was terrible that was wrong they kept me away from my family’s for two years and
away from my family’s for two years and
away from my family’s for two years and seven months but guess what
seven months but guess what
seven months but guess what that was nothing
that was nothing
that was nothing I just learned if another guy who
I just learned if another guy who
I just learned if another guy who started the process at age 17 he finally
started the process at age 17 he finally
started the process at age 17 he finally came to the US last year at age 34 do
came to the US last year at age 34 do
came to the US last year at age 34 do you want to talk about extreme vetting
you want to talk about extreme vetting
you want to talk about extreme vetting 17 years of vetting which one of you are
17 years of vetting which one of you are
17 years of vetting which one of you are ready to go through that process there
ready to go through that process there
ready to go through that process there are other programs the u.s. that that we
are other programs the u.s. that that we
are other programs the u.s. that that we should be focusing on instead we don’t
should be focusing on instead we don’t
should be focusing on instead we don’t we focus only on and it’s been I don’t
we focus only on and it’s been I don’t
we focus only on and it’s been I don’t know why it’s been this way but there
know why it’s been this way but there
know why it’s been this way but there isn’t any evidence of refugees
isn’t any evidence of refugees
isn’t any evidence of refugees committing terrorism not one not in the
committing terrorism not one not in the
committing terrorism not one not in the US whenever you hear people talk about
US whenever you hear people talk about
US whenever you hear people talk about terrorism and refugee to always give you
terrorism and refugee to always give you
terrorism and refugee to always give you an example of where Europe the u.s. is
an example of where Europe the u.s. is
an example of where Europe the u.s. is not Europe the US has her own screening
not Europe the US has her own screening
not Europe the US has her own screening process vetting process that she puts
process vetting process that she puts
process vetting process that she puts her people through Europe has their own
there are several myths that we go
there are several myths that we go through you know I hear all the time one
through you know I hear all the time one
through you know I hear all the time one of them is refugees don’t pay taxes are
of them is refugees don’t pay taxes are
of them is refugees don’t pay taxes are you telling me I lived in Montana for 23
you telling me I lived in Montana for 23
you telling me I lived in Montana for 23 years and didn’t pay taxes there pay
years and didn’t pay taxes there pay
years and didn’t pay taxes there pay taxes refugees take jobs from US workers
taxes refugees take jobs from US workers
taxes refugees take jobs from US workers is that real did I take anybody’s job
is that real did I take anybody’s job
is that real did I take anybody’s job since I’ve been in this country for 23
since I’ve been in this country for 23
since I’ve been in this country for 23 years I’ve never had less than two jobs
that means that there are lots of jobs
that means that there are lots of jobs for everybody
refugees receives special money from the
refugees receives special money from the US government to purchase homes and cars
US government to purchase homes and cars
US government to purchase homes and cars and all where is mine I’ve been waiting
and all where is mine I’ve been waiting
and all where is mine I’ve been waiting for mine for 23 years when I fled but we
for mine for 23 years when I fled but we
for mine for 23 years when I fled but we fled Liberia into Montana
fled Liberia into Montana
fled Liberia into Montana two weeks later I started my first job
two weeks later I started my first job
two weeks later I started my first job with Intermountain Children’s Home I
with Intermountain Children’s Home I
with Intermountain Children’s Home I didn’t even have time to get my feet wet
didn’t even have time to get my feet wet
didn’t even have time to get my feet wet I was up and moving and my situation
I was up and moving and my situation
I was up and moving and my situation it’s not unique
it’s not unique
it’s not unique another one that the refugees come to
another one that the refugees come to
another one that the refugees come to the US for economic reasons No what did
the US for economic reasons No what did
the US for economic reasons No what did I say about the definition of a refugee
I say about the definition of a refugee
I say about the definition of a refugee the first thing on their mind is safety
the first thing on their mind is safety
the first thing on their mind is safety they are flee for safety not to get rich
they are flee for safety not to get rich
they are flee for safety not to get rich when I fled Liberia 1994 when I entered
when I fled Liberia 1994 when I entered
when I fled Liberia 1994 when I entered this country and arrived at JFK Airport
this country and arrived at JFK Airport
this country and arrived at JFK Airport I had 25 cents in my pocket it wasn’t
I had 25 cents in my pocket it wasn’t
I had 25 cents in my pocket it wasn’t enough
enough
enough for a phone call I couldn’t even call my
for a phone call I couldn’t even call my
for a phone call I couldn’t even call my wife to tell her hey I’m in America so
wife to tell her hey I’m in America so
wife to tell her hey I’m in America so no if we were here for economic reasons
no if we were here for economic reasons
no if we were here for economic reasons I’m supposed to be rich right now
I’m supposed to be rich right now
I’m supposed to be rich right now because I’ve been here 23 years what am
because I’ve been here 23 years what am
because I’ve been here 23 years what am I waiting on
refugees do not contribute or
refugees do not contribute or participate in the communities where am
participate in the communities where am
participate in the communities where am i today is this not part of my community
i today is this not part of my community
i today is this not part of my community Grand Street
Grand Street
Grand Street it’s TEDx not part of my community am I
it’s TEDx not part of my community am I
it’s TEDx not part of my community am I not participating we do all of those
not participating we do all of those
not participating we do all of those things and of course refugees present
things and of course refugees present
things and of course refugees present health risk after going through the
health risk after going through the
health risk after going through the health screening you don’t want to know
health screening you don’t want to know
health screening you don’t want to know what we go through every part of you is
what we go through every part of you is
what we go through every part of you is screen look I’m from a country Liberia
screen look I’m from a country Liberia
screen look I’m from a country Liberia like there’s a small West African
like there’s a small West African
like there’s a small West African country it was established by slaves
country it was established by slaves
country it was established by slaves that were free from this country and
that were free from this country and
that were free from this country and sent back to Africa when the slaves got
sent back to Africa when the slaves got
sent back to Africa when the slaves got there to form the government they took
there to form the government they took
there to form the government they took with them what they have learned here
with them what they have learned here
with them what they have learned here and they were so honored by going back
and they were so honored by going back
and they were so honored by going back to Africa they decided to honor one
to Africa they decided to honor one
to Africa they decided to honor one person they honor your fifth our fifth
person they honor your fifth our fifth
person they honor your fifth our fifth president who was he
president who was he
president who was he Monroe didn’t name that capital city
Monroe didn’t name that capital city
Monroe didn’t name that capital city after Monroe because he was instrumental
after Monroe because he was instrumental
after Monroe because he was instrumental in sending the slaves back to Africa we
in sending the slaves back to Africa we
in sending the slaves back to Africa we have places in Liberia I’m from Maryland
have places in Liberia I’m from Maryland
have places in Liberia I’m from Maryland in Liberia I went to school in Virginia
in Liberia I went to school in Virginia
in Liberia I went to school in Virginia we have Louisiana Georgia Mississippi
we have Louisiana Georgia Mississippi
we have Louisiana Georgia Mississippi those were places the slaves lived and
those were places the slaves lived and
those were places the slaves lived and when they went back didn’t name places
when they went back didn’t name places
when they went back didn’t name places like that but I’m sure what some of you
like that but I’m sure what some of you
like that but I’m sure what some of you have heard of Charles teal and Samuel do
have heard of Charles teal and Samuel do
have heard of Charles teal and Samuel do we when we fled like deer were fled
we when we fled like deer were fled
we when we fled like deer were fled because of one of Africa’s most brutal
because of one of Africa’s most brutal
because of one of Africa’s most brutal civil war when I finally have my wife
civil war when I finally have my wife
civil war when I finally have my wife and I finally fled the country
and I finally fled the country
and I finally fled the country I was 90 pounds she was 87 we were dying
I was 90 pounds she was 87 we were dying
I was 90 pounds she was 87 we were dying of starvation
we’re looking to seek economic wealth we
we’re looking to seek economic wealth we were thinking about terrorism all we
were thinking about terrorism all we
were thinking about terrorism all we were thinking about survival the second
were thinking about survival the second
were thinking about survival the second air country we went to was Ghana who got
air country we went to was Ghana who got
air country we went to was Ghana who got into Ghana my wife said hey I got family
into Ghana my wife said hey I got family
into Ghana my wife said hey I got family in Montana I said where is that she said
in Montana I said where is that she said
in Montana I said where is that she said oh it’s in America I know America know
oh it’s in America I know America know
oh it’s in America I know America know Montana in America she so yes I do and
Montana in America she so yes I do and
Montana in America she so yes I do and she called her my wife was an exchange
she called her my wife was an exchange
she called her my wife was an exchange student and she went to hell in a high
student and she went to hell in a high
student and she went to hell in a high and she lived with her family and she
and she lived with her family and she
and she lived with her family and she called the family out and told them we
called the family out and told them we
called the family out and told them we fled the country and we were in Ghana
fled the country and we were in Ghana
fled the country and we were in Ghana and we were seeking help of course they
and we were seeking help of course they
and we were seeking help of course they were excited we would get you all over
were excited we would get you all over
were excited we would get you all over here soon don’t worry it was easy for my
here soon don’t worry it was easy for my
here soon don’t worry it was easy for my wife because all they did was they went
wife because all they did was they went
wife because all they did was they went to Karen Carroll College awarded her a
to Karen Carroll College awarded her a
to Karen Carroll College awarded her a scholarship to do nursing so boom she
scholarship to do nursing so boom she
scholarship to do nursing so boom she came to Montana not me
came to Montana not me
came to Montana not me I had to go through that process and
I had to go through that process and
I had to go through that process and that process was grueling
that process was grueling
that process was grueling in fact when I got to the fifth step I
in fact when I got to the fifth step I
in fact when I got to the fifth step I called my wife and said I’m done these
called my wife and said I’m done these
called my wife and said I’m done these people will never let me get in don’t
people will never let me get in don’t
people will never let me get in don’t worry about it let’s forget it I’ll stay
worry about it let’s forget it I’ll stay
worry about it let’s forget it I’ll stay here you stay there it’s over and she
here you stay there it’s over and she
here you stay there it’s over and she said she’d give me after I told her such
said she’d give me after I told her such
said she’d give me after I told her such a speech I mean after I made such a
a speech I mean after I made such a
a speech I mean after I made such a speech and told I’m done this she gave
speech and told I’m done this she gave
speech and told I’m done this she gave me one line they know what they’re doing
me one line they know what they’re doing
me one line they know what they’re doing become they know what to do and I’m like
become they know what to do and I’m like
become they know what to do and I’m like what that process took two years and
what that process took two years and
what that process took two years and seven months when I was finally cleared
seven months when I was finally cleared
seven months when I was finally cleared after I went through the border custom
after I went through the border custom
after I went through the border custom targeting center I called them up and
targeting center I called them up and
targeting center I called them up and said I’m coming
said I’m coming
said I’m coming tell me about Montana and my wife’s oh
tell me about Montana and my wife’s oh
tell me about Montana and my wife’s oh it’s nice you’ll love it it’s pretty
it’s nice you’ll love it it’s pretty
it’s nice you’ll love it it’s pretty warm too
warm too
warm too in February so what’s the temperature
in February so what’s the temperature
in February so what’s the temperature she’s always 29 degrees I said but water
she’s always 29 degrees I said but water
she’s always 29 degrees I said but water freezes at 32 so how can it be 29 and
freezes at 32 so how can it be 29 and
freezes at 32 so how can it be 29 and she said but yeah that’s I said no you
she said but yeah that’s I said no you
she said but yeah that’s I said no you don’t understand it
don’t understand it
don’t understand it let me talk to someone who understands
let me talk to someone who understands
let me talk to someone who understands the temperature and she calls her host
the temperature and she calls her host
the temperature and she calls her host mom and she comes home hi how are you
mom and she comes home hi how are you
mom and she comes home hi how are you you’ll soon be here yes I said what’s
you’ll soon be here yes I said what’s
you’ll soon be here yes I said what’s the temperature she said what’s 29 it’s
the temperature she said what’s 29 it’s
the temperature she said what’s 29 it’s very warm today I said what is it when
very warm today I said what is it when
very warm today I said what is it when it’s cold she sold 30 below I said the
it’s cold she sold 30 below I said the
it’s cold she sold 30 below I said the little what she said below zero now
little what she said below zero now
little what she said below zero now imagine I’m coming from a country the
imagine I’m coming from a country the
imagine I’m coming from a country the average temperature is 80 degrees and
average temperature is 80 degrees and
average temperature is 80 degrees and they’re telling me it’s warm at 29
they’re telling me it’s warm at 29
they’re telling me it’s warm at 29 it gives cold at 30 below and I went
it gives cold at 30 below and I went
it gives cold at 30 below and I went through that Cultural Center and it
through that Cultural Center and it
through that Cultural Center and it never told me about that so the crazy
never told me about that so the crazy
never told me about that so the crazy thing I had a sister here and I called
thing I had a sister here and I called
thing I had a sister here and I called her and told her I’m coming to America
her and told her I’m coming to America
her and told her I’m coming to America she said okay I’ll meet you at JFK
she said okay I’ll meet you at JFK
she said okay I’ll meet you at JFK whatever I bring you wear it all you’re
whatever I bring you wear it all you’re
whatever I bring you wear it all you’re going to Montana you wear it okay she
going to Montana you wear it okay she
going to Montana you wear it okay she brought two sets of long johns a
brought two sets of long johns a
brought two sets of long johns a turtleneck went to jacket everything
turtleneck went to jacket everything
turtleneck went to jacket everything what she didn’t tell me I had to go
what she didn’t tell me I had to go
what she didn’t tell me I had to go through the airports I had to be on the
through the airports I had to be on the
through the airports I had to be on the plane and everything that night I put on
plane and everything that night I put on
plane and everything that night I put on two sets so I mean I’m morning put on
two sets so I mean I’m morning put on
two sets so I mean I’m morning put on two sets of Long John put on my
two sets of Long John put on my
two sets of Long John put on my turtleneck put on the vest and then I
turtleneck put on the vest and then I
turtleneck put on the vest and then I got on the plane and I’m the only one
got on the plane and I’m the only one
got on the plane and I’m the only one sweating I am the only one sweating and
sweating I am the only one sweating and
sweating I am the only one sweating and the guy next to me it’s looking at me
the guy next to me it’s looking at me
the guy next to me it’s looking at me like what the heck is going on so of
like what the heck is going on so of
like what the heck is going on so of course I took off my first layer
Koff ii and he turned how many laters
Koff ii and he turned how many laters are you wearing you don’t want to know
are you wearing you don’t want to know
are you wearing you don’t want to know man and then I when we were landing
man and then I when we were landing
man and then I when we were landing descending into Helena the pilot said is
descending into Helena the pilot said is
descending into Helena the pilot said is sunny and warm at 32 degrees I’m like
sunny and warm at 32 degrees I’m like
sunny and warm at 32 degrees I’m like these guys are crazily in this place
these guys are crazily in this place
these guys are crazily in this place what piqued my interest most was the
what piqued my interest most was the
what piqued my interest most was the fact when I got down
fact when I got down
fact when I got down I actually saw people in shorts at 32
I actually saw people in shorts at 32
I actually saw people in shorts at 32 degrees people were wearing shorts
ladies and gentlemen the process we have
ladies and gentlemen the process we have in place works the process we have in
in place works the process we have in
in place works the process we have in place is extreme it took me 2 years or 7
place is extreme it took me 2 years or 7
place is extreme it took me 2 years or 7 months it took the other guy 17 years
months it took the other guy 17 years
months it took the other guy 17 years and there isn’t any evidence of
and there isn’t any evidence of
and there isn’t any evidence of terrorism from refugees you make your
terrorism from refugees you make your
terrorism from refugees you make your own conclusions
own conclusions
own conclusions thanks for having
”
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