The SAC Calls for Immediate US Action Against Assad
Statement on Saturday’s Chemical Attacks in Douma
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON D.C., April 9, 2018 – On Saturday, the regime of Syria’s Bashar Al-Assad attacked the people of Douma in Eastern Ghouta with chemical weapons, described by direct observers as "the worst chemical attack yet."
Several reports from people inside Douma claimed that the chemicals were a mix of chlorine and sarin. Saturday's atrocities come just one year after the sarin chemical attack in Khan Sheikoun, which prompted swift and decisive action by President Trump to strike the airport believed to be the base for the plane that carried out the attack.
Horrifying pictures and videos from Saturday are now surfacing, showing mostly children and women who were hiding in shelters, gasping for air, foaming at the mouth, and dying slowly and painfully. The statistics on casualties continue to rapidly climb, while terror engulfs innocent civilians in the Douma area, and across all of Syria, as they brace for more attacks from the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian allies. Saturday's use of chemical weapons is the latest tactic by the Assad regime to bring the people of Douma to their knees after years of siege, starvation, and bombardment, This follows a policy of forced displacement and demographic change that the regime has employed in multiple areas since the beginning of the war, including in Homs and Aleppo. Despite condemnations by the international community, no assertive action has been taken to stop these atrocities once and for all.
The Syrian American Council urges President Trump to follow through on his tweets Sunday morning, and to take immediate action against this tyrannical regime. We call on the president to work with Congress and the international community to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention and to immediately stop the slaughter of civilians in Syria by grounding Assad's air force.
Media Contacts:
Bassam Rifai
973-954-0982
Michelle R. Taylor
312-919-2124
Syrian American Council Calls for Definitive Response to Assad's Latest Chemical Attacks
Syrian American Organizations React to Decision on Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Washington, DC (January 31, 2018)- Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is extending, but not redesignating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syria. While we, as Syrian American organizations, are reassured by the extension which will allow Syrians with current-TPS status to remain inside the country, we are deeply disturbed by the failure of the Administration to redesignate TPS--a decision that will prevent nearly 2,000 non-TPS-holders already living in the United States from applying for TPS. This decision constitutes a break with practice, which has consistently seen both extension and redesignation every 18 months for TPS for Syria since the initial designation was made in March 2012. With the war in Syria ongoing, mass atrocities continuing, and humanitarian travesty overtaking the region, we, as Syrian American organizations, are extremely concerned that any premature repatriation of Syrians could be tantamount to a death sentence.
Syrian TPS holders include creative entrepreneurs, dedicated teachers, and hardworking employees who contribute to our country’s economy, strengthen our national fabric, and reflect positively on our diverse heritage. Syrian TPS holders are already present in the United States, are vetted regularly, and are subjected to extensive background checks. About 5,800 Syrian current-TPS holders are eligible for extension of TPS. About 2,000 Syrians living in the United States would be eligible to apply for TPS in the case of redesignation.
Since the war first began in Syria, more than 500,000 Syrians have been killed, at least 5.5 million Syrians have registered as refugees, and at least 6.1 million Syrians have been internally displaced from their homes. The State Department’s January 2018 travel advisory confirms: “No part of Syria is safe from violence.” Syrians forced to return prematurely to their country face a number of dire scenarios: becoming the target of barrel bombs, airstrikes, sieges, or chemical weapons attacks; being subjected to arbitrary arrest or forced conscription by Syrian authorities; or being unable to access the most basic necessities, including food, water, and medical care.
Until the disastrous human rights and humanitarian situation in Syria stabilizes; the ongoing war comes to a clear end; and the extraordinary circumstances at hand subside, the Syrian American organizations continue to call on this Administration to support policies like TPS which allow those fleeing unspeakable crimes and haunting scenes of war to temporarily seek refuge in a country that has built its national fabric from diversity, openness, and tolerance.
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The Syrian American organizations referenced in this statement include:
Americans for a Free Syria
American Relief Coalition for Syria
Hope Foundation for Relief and Development
Karam Foundation
Mercy Without Limits
NuDay Syria
Rahma Relief Foundation
Shaam Relief Foundation
Swasia Charity Foundation
Syria Relief and Development
Syrian American Engineers Association
Syrian American Medical Society
Syrian Community Network
Syrian Expatriates Organization
Syrian Forum USA
Coalition for a Democratic Syria
American Syriac Union
Association of Free Syrians
Syrian American Council
Syrian Christians for Peace
Syrian Emergency Task Force
TPS for Syria: Resource Page
The Syrian American Council has been working closely with fellow Syrian-American organizations, as well as a broad and remarkable group of human rights, immigration, advocacy, legal, and faith groups to advocate for the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syria ahead of the administration's expected decision on this life-saving program by the end of January 2018.
Groups across the spectrum have worked tirelessly to produce coalition letters, advocacy reports, legal petitions and more. What follows is an attempt to gather all of these resources in a central location:
Legal Petitions
Legal Petition & Addendum to DHS submitted by Syrian-American organizations: not made publicly available
Legal Petition to DHS submitted by American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Advocacy Report
"No Safety in a Warzone: Why TPS is Needed for Syria" by CLINIC
Congressional Advocacy
Letters to Government Officials
Letter to DHS/State from American Relief Coalition for Syria and Humanitarian Groups Working on Syria
Letter to DHS from 231 Faith Leaders and 64 Faith-Based Organizations
Grassroots Action and Resources
Sample Script for Congressional Call-In Action & Visual Products by Syrian-American Organizations
#SaveTPS Tweetstorm Social Media Booklet by Syrian Forum USA
Profiles of Syrian TPS-Holders by American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Two Pager on TPS for Syria by American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Video: Story of Amer by Syrian Community Network
Profiles of Syrian TPS-Holders by Oxfam
Media Coverage
Arab News:"Syrians in the US fear deportation if 'protected status' is removed"
Middle East Eye: "Syrians in US fear Trump may end their 'protected status'"
NPR: "Nearly 7,000 Syrians Are Waiting to See If Their Protected Status Will Be Renewed"
Reuters: "Syrians with temporary U.S. protection brace for Trump decision"
The Gazette: "Syrian student at University of Iowa faces precarious future"
The Intercept: "Trump Administration Weighs Whether to Extend Protections for Thousands of Syrians"
The National: "6,900 Syrians in the US face risk of deportation if Trump ends protection"