Important meeting with DHS secretary in Chicago

[Zaher Sahloul]

 Dear all

DHS is holding an important meeting with community leaders and organizations in Chicago in collaboration with SAMS Midwest. It is expected that DHS secretary to attend. My contact in DHS recommended to deliver a letter on behalf of SAMS to the secretary.

What do you suggest to include in such letter?

Dr M. Zaher Sahloul

President

Syrian American Medical Society

http://www.sams-usa.net/

 

[Zaher Sahloul]

Thank you very much. All of the input is very helpful. Let me know if you have anything else 

Zaher Sahloul 

On Jun 4, 2014, at 8:38 AM, "'Jaber' via SAMS Advocacy Committee" <SAMSAd...@sams-usa.net> wrote:

Is it about Syria? What is the context of the meeting? 

My suggestion, if the context of the meeting appropriate, in addition to the requests Ahmad pointed to is to include the urgent need to end the conflict due to what is crucial for the DHS and US interests. A message that resonate  over and over in the ears of the administration.

1- the regime thru the prolongation of the conflict is helping creating Alqaida stronghold in the MidleEast.

2- the suffering and despair of the Syrians under constant bombardment  will strengthen gradually the position and logic of terrorism and Alqaida for self defense and retaliation and invite more and more Syrian to join 

3- the prolongation of the conflict and lack or decisive intervention from the US to support its words with actions will make the people of Syria and many in the Arab and Islamic world who sympathize with them loose faith in the US legitimacy and move it to the enemy category. This will have endless future repercussion against the West interests in the area.

4- the desperate situation of the refugees and displaced will create waves of illegal immigration to Europe and carry with it huge risk of terrorism for decades to come. 

5- the prolongation of the conflict will shift Syria or part of it gradually into a state of Iranian empire and strengthen the logic and support of the Iranian hardliners and cause true treat against the US allies in the area.

Jaber 

 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 3, 2014, at 3:43 AM, tara...@gmail.com wrote:

Thank you Zaher for your leadership.

Three points of particular interest:

1-Establish a mechanism for SAMS physicians to be recognized by DHS to avoid recurrent lengthy process in the airport after returning from a missionary trip.

We are happy to disclose our info and trip details, through SAMS, before or after that trip in writing, using a phone interview, or at a local DHS office if needed

2- Establish a mainstream process to  allow more patients without government documents who have complicated medical conditions to be brought in and treated in the US.

Few organizations have been successful bringing in only a limited number of patients with "refugee status and documents" .

3- Facilitate and expedite granting visas to SAMS professional guests and trainees from Syria.

Regards

Ahmad Tarakji