Syrian-American College Students Worry About Refugee Family Members
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As the debate over allowing Syrian refugees into the United States continues, two Syrian-American college students say they worry family members won't make it to Pennsylvania.
"I don't think there's anything in the world that I could be more proud of than to be Syrian," Penn State Lehigh Valley Senior Hazel Swaid told Eyewitness News.
The majority of American governors don't want Syrian refugees in their states, but Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf does. Freshman Jack Barakat is expecting family members in late December, but now that hangs in the balance.
The students say they both support the Assad regime in Syria. They claim their views have led to bullying.
"There has been a lot of attacks towards us on Twitter and on Facebook and all that. The problem is they don't know what they're talking about," Barakat told Eyewitness News.
The students make up one of the largest Syrian populations in America. For years, Syrians have made their home in the Lehigh Valley. Many go to Penn State Lehigh Valley.
"Our state has continued to be a state that welcomes refugees as of today or yesterday and it still is. I think that's a good thing," Chief Academic Affairs Officer Dr. Kenneth Thigpen said.
Swaid and Barakat insist that Syrian refugees just want to find a new home and the United States should welcome them.
"We were one of the best in the Middle East and to see my country fall the way that it did, it's heartbreaking," Swaid said.
