U.K. Error That Delayed Entry of Refugee Children Criticized
The British government has been lambasted for an error that delayed refugee children entering the country. A Labour peer called the mix-up that affected 130 children “shocking and disgusting.”
The row began after offers from all over the U.K. to look after refugee children were ignored by the Home Office for months, thanks to an “admin error.”
Lord Dubs, whose name was given to the scheme to bring unaccompanied minors to Britain, slammed the government for undercounting the places available. While campaigners demanded places for 3,000 children, it was announced the only 350 places had been found in February. That number will now rise to 480.
The increase comes after officials discovered that scores of offers from local councils to host youngsters had gotten lost in an administrative mistake. Refugee minors who did come to Britain in November 2016 were greeted with hostile headlines from the country’s right-wing press.
Lord Dubs, a World War II refugee from the Nazis, said, “I’m delighted for the sake of those 130 children but shocked and disgusted that the government has made such a mess of this.
“I don’t like the way they’re doing it just before the election – the government should be ashamed of themselves.
“They have been told by us and by local authorities that some are willing to offer more places and they wouldn’t listen.”
Germany Arrests Soldier Plotting Terror Attack Disguised as Syrian
A German soldier has been arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out a terror attack disguised as a refugee. The 28-year-old is alleged to have registered as a Syrian asylum seeker in January 2016 as part of a plot.
Prosecutors in Frankfurt am Main said the soldier was arrested on suspicion of disguising himself as a Syrian refugee with the intention of carrying out “a serious act of violence with xenophobic motives.”
German police worked with counterparts in Austria and France and raids were carried out on 16 properties linked to the case.
Authorities in Germany apparently failed to notice his German origin or his inability to speak Arabic. He came to the attention of Austrian police after trying to smuggle a handgun through Vienna airport.
Trump’s Daughter Says U.S. Should Discuss Admitting Syrians
Ivanka Trump, an adviser to her father, said admitting Syrian refugees has to be discussed. President Donald Trump has sought an indefinite travel ban on Syrians entering the U.S.
Speaking on U.S. television, she talked about a “global humanitarian crisis” and said that opening the borders should be discussed, but “that’s not going to be enough in and of itself.”
Ivanka Trump said letting Syrian refugees into the U.S. “has to be part of the discussion.”
During the presidential campaign, her brother, Donald Trump Jr., compared Syrian refugees to poisoned Skittles, a colorful candy, and called for an end to political correctness on the issue.
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