Jocelyn Portillo: America needs to help those fleeing war

Dear Barbara Boxer,

My name is Jocelyn Portillo and I am a senior at University of California, Merced. I am originally from Los Angeles and have been living in the Central Valley for the past 3 1/2 years, or since I began college. I major in sociology and this semester I enrolled in a course on terrorism and genocide. We discuss the reasons certain groups feel the need to turn to horrible acts of violence.

I’m writing a public letter to ask what you can provide, as a senator of California, to prevent these acts of violence? From the bombings that took place in Paris and the U.S. government’s refusal to allow Syrian refugees into the states because they feel that some might be possible terrorists. As a human being, how can someone refuse shelter to those in need? From what I have learned in class and the readings, I know that those driven to terrorism/genocide plan the type of violence they carry out.

Many of the Syrians are coming to the United States to get away from the violence that has killed thousands of innocent people. As a senator and mother, I know you want the best for your children just as they do.

Editor’s note: The United States has agreed to receive 10,000 Syrian refugees; some have already begun to arrive.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Jocelyn Portillo: America needs to help those fleeing war."