Refugee Family From War-Torn Syria Grateful To Be Resettled In New Jersey
PATERSON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Governor Chris Christie has insisted that New Jersey and the U.S. should not accept Syrian refugees, not even children under the age of 5, but Christie has no authority to deny them.
On Tuesday a Democratic lawmaker introduced a family that has just arrived from the war-torn country.
Morad and Ola El Tei Bawi, their 3-year-old daughter Rama, and their four other children were feeling safe in America after fleeing the civil war in Syria.
As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, the family is living in New Jersey thanks to the refugee group Church World Service. The group's director translated for Mr. El Tei Bawi, who once served in the Syrian army.
"It was a decision I was forced to make. I had no choice. I did for my children and for my family," Mahmoud Mahmoud said.
The family left Syrian in the middle of the night, four years ago when Ola was pregnant with Rama. They witnessed murder and destruction, and endured constant house searches before making it to a refugee camp in Jordan.
Now, they're grateful to be in the U.S.
"Strangers are welcoming me and offering me so many different things," Mahmoud translated for Morad.
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) said the vetting process for Syrians is tough, but Christie said he doesn't trust that terrorists will be kept out.
"People who are fleeing from their country, they're not looking to make problems in another country. They're fleeing because they themselves are being terrorized," Ola said through a translator.
For now, they want to live a dignified life in their new country.
The refugee group helped Morad, a former fork lift operator, find a job and provided the family with a furnished apartment.
Congressman Pascrell's legislation helps fund groups like Church World Service so they can resettle refugees in the U.S.