Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is not in favor of the U.S. taking in Syrian refugees who have fled the civil war in their country because he said it would not help solve their problem.
What the U.S. should do instead, Carson said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday, is offer financial assistance to the refugee camps in Jordan to help alleviate a $3 billion shortfall every year.
“That’s how much money we spent last year on Halloween candy,” said Carson. “I mean, is it something that can be done?”
Host John Dickerson asked Carson if he was talking about starting a national fundraising campaign.
“I’m talking about in terms of the amount of money that it would take to fund the shortfall,” Carson replied. “You know our country has done a great job in terms of providing support. But I believe that you know the entire international community could easily make up that 3 billion dollar shortfall. My point in comparing it to the Halloween candy is to say that you know this is not a big deal.”
Speaking from Amman, Jordan, after visiting Syrian refugees this weekend with his wife Candy, Carson said that refugees he spoke to want to be repatriated back into their homeland. Furthermore, they want the international community to support the efforts of the Jordanians to house and protect them.
Carson said that the Jordanians have done a “yeoman’s job” in setting up their refugee camps and repeated his outlook that the U.S. taking in 10,000-25,000 refugees would ultimately not help these people fleeing conflict.
“That’s a little band aid that makes a few people say, ‘Hey, we’re good guys,'” Carson told Dickerson. Instead, Carson said other Middle Eastern countries in the region should help shelter Syrian refugees because it would not be so much of a culture shock for them.
