It has been three years since thousands of Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries have worked or attended school. They were forced from their country due to the war. Life is difficult for the refugees, but it is also hard on the host country’s economy as well as international aid groups. Listen to hear more about Syrian refugees.
Read MoreDebate: Is It Unfair to Make Refugees Pay Host Countries?
Denmark is poised to pass a new law related to refugees. It requires police to seize cash and valuables from people seeking asylum in Denmark. The idea behind the law is to help defray the costs of caring for refugees. The Danish government hopes that this new law will make Denmark unattractive to other refugees and discourage people from seeking asylum. Many support the new measures because they say Denmark is a small country and can’t support a large number of refugees. Others believe it is a violation of human rights. Listen to hear more about this crisis and debate whether refugees should pay countries that support them.
Read MoreDebate: Should Income Affect Immigration?
Britain's Prime Minister promised to bring migration numbers down six years ago. But the numbers have risen. Now the government wants to cut migration by having non-Europeans with skilled worker visas leave the country if they don’t make at least $50,000 a year. Lower-paid workers such as artists, health care workers, and people in the trades will be affected by these new rules. Listen to hear about the new plan and debate the pros and cons of setting a salary benchmark for immigrants.
Read MoreCURRENT EVENT | May 20, 2016
The Obama administration promised to welcome 10,000 Syrian refugees into the country this year, but it has made little progress toward this goal. A top refugee official explains how the U.S. will keep working to fulfill this promise. Citizens and politicians alike have strong opinions on refugee issues. Some people think we must invite those in trouble into our country, while others worry that welcoming refugees could threaten our safety. Government officials hope to listen to all concerns as they work to protect people’s safety at home and abroad. Listen to this story and then have your students debate America’s responsibility to Syrian refugees.
Story Length: 4:58
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04/13/2016
https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/682-debate-what-is-americas-responsibility-to-syrian-refugees
Classroom Discussion Themes