Is shunning refugees the answer to terror? - CNN

Shunning refugees is no answer to terror

By Karen Jacobsen

Updated 1822 GMT (0222 HKT) November 17, 2015

People go through a security checkpoint to attend a Mass in homage to victims of the Paris terror attacks at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on Sunday, November 15. French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency after the attacks in Paris on Friday, November 13, and said border security has been ramped up. The terrorist group ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
People go through a security checkpoint to attend a Mass in homage to victims of the Paris terror attacks at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on Sunday, November 15. French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency after the attacks in Paris on Friday, November 13, and said border security has been ramped up. The terrorist group ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, center, speaks with police forces with French Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve, left, and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Gare du Nord railway station in Paris on November 15 about security measures after the attacks.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, center, speaks with police forces with French Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve, left, and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Gare du Nord railway station in Paris on November 15 about security measures after the attacks.
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French police secure the perimeter after panic broke out among mourners who paid their respects at the attack sites at restaurant Le Petit Cambodge and the Carillon Hotel in Paris on November 15.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
French police secure the perimeter after panic broke out among mourners who paid their respects at the attack sites at restaurant Le Petit Cambodge and the Carillon Hotel in Paris on November 15.
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Mounted police officers patrol in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on November 15.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
Mounted police officers patrol in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on November 15.
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Security personnel inspect vehicles at the border between Belgium and France on Saturday, November 14.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
Security personnel inspect vehicles at the border between Belgium and France on Saturday, November 14.
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A police officer stands guard outside the Cafe Bonne Biere in the Rue de la Fontaine au Roi in Paris on November 14.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
A police officer stands guard outside the Cafe Bonne Biere in the Rue de la Fontaine au Roi in Paris on November 14.
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A French police officer guards the French-Italian border on November 14 in Menton, France.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
A French police officer guards the French-Italian border on November 14 in Menton, France.
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Soldiers from the 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment of Carcassonne arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris as security reinforcements on November 14.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
Soldiers from the 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment of Carcassonne arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris as security reinforcements on November 14.
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Soldiers patrol the Eiffel Tower on November 14.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
Soldiers patrol the Eiffel Tower on November 14.
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French police check vehicles on the bridge between Strasbourg and Kehl, Germany, on November 14.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
French police check vehicles on the bridge between Strasbourg and Kehl, Germany, on November 14.
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Police vehicles are parked near the entrance to the Louvre in Paris on November 14. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the state of emergency in France could mean restrictions on people's movements. Airports in France remained open, and airlines were still flying there, though some airlines reported canceled flights.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
Police vehicles are parked near the entrance to the Louvre in Paris on November 14. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the state of emergency in France could mean restrictions on people's movements. Airports in France remained open, and airlines were still flying there, though some airlines reported canceled flights.
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French police check vehicles on the so-called European bridge between Strasbourg and Kehl, Germany, on November 14.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
French police check vehicles on the so-called European bridge between Strasbourg and Kehl, Germany, on November 14.
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Police stand guard at a train station in Paris on November 14.
Photos: Increased security following Paris attacks
Police stand guard at a train station in Paris on November 14.
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Story highlights

  • Karen Jacobsen: News that attacker in Paris may have come in on wave of refugees may make countries less willing to accept them
  • Wrong reaction, she says: Refugees will come; what's needed is a global response, and support by U.S., EU for countries that step up

Karen Jacobsen is associate professor of research at The Fletcher School at Tufts University and the acting director of the Feinstein International Center (Friedman School of Nutrition), where she also directs the Refugees and Forced Migration Program. The views expressed are her own.

(CNN)It now seems possible that at least one of the terrorists in the Paris attack on Friday entered the European Union hidden among the wave of refugees arriving on European shores.

Even if this turns out not to be so, the fear that terrorists are hiding amongst refugees will increase and will be used by anti-immigrant politicians.
    That refugee or migrant movements might include terrorists has always been a threat and a worry to countries of immigration. It is part of the risk of welcoming strangers, just as we all take calculated risks when we allow people we don't know well into our homes.
      "We are angry and defiant"
      "We are angry and defiant"
      How will the presence of terrorists among the refugees -- real or now increasingly feared -- affect the willingness of Europeans to welcome refugees?
      Many who before Friday were willing to allow refugees into their countries and to help them will be given pause. Anti-immigrant movements and politicians such as Marine Le Pen in France and Donald Trump in the United States will seize the opportunity to create momentum against immigration and block border entry.
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      Is this the solution?
        Even before Friday, European countries that were previously welcoming, such as Sweden and Germany, were pulling back. But sealing borders with razor wire and having police on trains requesting papers are the kinds of images Europeans will surely shrink from, given their history -- and such actions will not prevent desperate refugees from finding ways to enter Europe.
        Nor can the United States and the rest of the world stand by and watch while ratcheting up their anti-immigrant rhetoric. The United States and Europe must work together to find reasonable ways to manage the current refugee flow into Europe and to utilize more creative and effective intelligence to monitor terrorist plans.
        How ISIS threatens the West
        How ISIS threatens the West
        The fact is Europe will not be able to quickly and easily absorb hundreds of thousands of refugees, and open-door policies that create impetus for migrants to leave their countries will lead to more desperate journeys and deaths at sea, especially now the winter storm season is coming upon us.
        This is why now is the moment for a truly global effort to address the refugee crisis, a movement not necessarily led by Europe and the United States but one that still should be well supported by them.
        First, it is essential to direct that support to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, as spillover from the conflict in Syria and Iraq overwhelms them, both in terms of their hosting more than 4 million refugees and in dealing with bomb attacks. This past week, Lebanon also experienced a horrific bomb attack by ISIS, when 43 people were killed in Beirut, with much less of a global outpouring of sympathy.
        A forensic scientist works near a Paris cafe on Saturday, November 14, following a series of coordinated attacks in Paris the night before that killed scores of people. ISIS has claimed responsibility.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A forensic scientist works near a Paris cafe on Saturday, November 14, following a series of coordinated attacks in Paris the night before that killed scores of people. ISIS has claimed responsibility.
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        Police are out in force November 14 near La Belle Equipe, one of the sites of the terror attacks.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Police are out in force November 14 near La Belle Equipe, one of the sites of the terror attacks.
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        Forensic police search for evidence inside the Comptoir Voltaire cafe after the attacks.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Forensic police search for evidence inside the Comptoir Voltaire cafe after the attacks.
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        Shoes and a bloody shirt lie outside the Bataclan concert hall on November 14. Most of the fatalities occurred at the Bataclan in central Paris.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Shoes and a bloody shirt lie outside the Bataclan concert hall on November 14. Most of the fatalities occurred at the Bataclan in central Paris.
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        Security forces evacuate people on Rue Oberkampf near the Bataclan concert hall early on November 14.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Security forces evacuate people on Rue Oberkampf near the Bataclan concert hall early on November 14.
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        Medics evacuate an injured woman on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire near the Bataclan early on November 14.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Medics evacuate an injured woman on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire near the Bataclan early on November 14.
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        Police, firefighters and rescue workers secure the area near the Bataclan concert hall on November 14.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Police, firefighters and rescue workers secure the area near the Bataclan concert hall on November 14.
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        A man with blood on his shirt talks on the phone on November 14. He is next to the Bataclan theater, where gunmen shot concertgoers and held hostages until police raided the building.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A man with blood on his shirt talks on the phone on November 14. He is next to the Bataclan theater, where gunmen shot concertgoers and held hostages until police raided the building.
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        Police officers patrol the area around Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on November 14.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Police officers patrol the area around Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on November 14.
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        Police officers patrol Paris' Saint-German neighborhood on November 14.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Police officers patrol Paris' Saint-German neighborhood on November 14.
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        Victims of the shooting at the Bataclan concert venue in central Paris are evacuated to receive medical treatment on November 14.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Victims of the shooting at the Bataclan concert venue in central Paris are evacuated to receive medical treatment on November 14.
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        A woman is evacuated from the Bataclan theater early on November 14.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A woman is evacuated from the Bataclan theater early on November 14.
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        Forensics are working in the street of Paris after the terrorist attack on Friday, November 13. The words "horror," "massacre" and "war" peppered the front pages of the country's newspapers, conveying the shell-shocked mood.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Forensics are working in the street of Paris after the terrorist attack on Friday, November 13. The words "horror," "massacre" and "war" peppered the front pages of the country's newspapers, conveying the shell-shocked mood.
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        Rescuers evacuate an injured person near the Stade de France, one of several sites of attacks November 13 in Paris. Thousands of fans were watching a soccer match between France and Germany when the attacks occurred.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Rescuers evacuate an injured person near the Stade de France, one of several sites of attacks November 13 in Paris. Thousands of fans were watching a soccer match between France and Germany when the attacks occurred.
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        A survivor of the terrorist attack in the Bataclan is assisted following terror attacks, November 13. The violence at the Bataclan, which involved a hostage-taking, resulted in the highest number of casualties of all the attacks.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A survivor of the terrorist attack in the Bataclan is assisted following terror attacks, November 13. The violence at the Bataclan, which involved a hostage-taking, resulted in the highest number of casualties of all the attacks.
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        Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France stadium after the international friendly soccer match between France and Germany in Saint-Denis.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France stadium after the international friendly soccer match between France and Germany in Saint-Denis.
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        Spectators embrace each other as they stand on the playing field of the Stade de France stadium at the end of a soccer match between France and Germany in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, on November 13.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Spectators embrace each other as they stand on the playing field of the Stade de France stadium at the end of a soccer match between France and Germany in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, on November 13.
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        A body, covered by a sheet, is seen on the sidewalk outside the Bataclan theater.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A body, covered by a sheet, is seen on the sidewalk outside the Bataclan theater.
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        Rescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Rescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris.
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        Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theater in Paris on November 13.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theater in Paris on November 13.
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        A medic tends to a wounded man following the attacks near the Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A medic tends to a wounded man following the attacks near the Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire.
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        A woman walks past police and firefighters in the Oberkampf area of Paris.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A woman walks past police and firefighters in the Oberkampf area of Paris.
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        A riot police officer stands by an ambulance near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A riot police officer stands by an ambulance near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris.
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        Wounded people are evacuated outside the Bataclan concert hall.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Wounded people are evacuated outside the Bataclan concert hall.
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        Police secure the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, following explosions during the soccer match between France and Germany.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Police secure the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, following explosions during the soccer match between France and Germany.
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        A wounded man is evacuated from the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        A wounded man is evacuated from the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.
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        Spectators gather on the field of the Stade de France after the attacks. Explosions were heard during the soccer match between France and Germany.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Spectators gather on the field of the Stade de France after the attacks. Explosions were heard during the soccer match between France and Germany.
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        French security forces rush in as people are evacuated in the area of Rue Bichat in the 10th District of Paris.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        French security forces rush in as people are evacuated in the area of Rue Bichat in the 10th District of Paris.
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        People leave the Stade de France after explosions were heard near the stadium during a soccer match between France and Germany on Friday. Paris Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman told CNN President Francois Hollande was at the match and was evacuated at halftime.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        People leave the Stade de France after explosions were heard near the stadium during a soccer match between France and Germany on Friday. Paris Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman told CNN President Francois Hollande was at the match and was evacuated at halftime.
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        Victims lay on the pavement outside a Paris restaurant.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Victims lay on the pavement outside a Paris restaurant.
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        Rescue workers and medics tend to victims at the scene of one of the shootings, a restaurant in the 10th District. Attackers reportedly used AK-47 automatic weapons in separate attacks across Paris, and there were explosions at the Stade de France.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        Rescue workers and medics tend to victims at the scene of one of the shootings, a restaurant in the 10th District. Attackers reportedly used AK-47 automatic weapons in separate attacks across Paris, and there were explosions at the Stade de France.
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        French security forces move people in the area of Rue Bichat in the 10th District. A witness told BFMTV that firefighters were on the scene to treat the injured.
        Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks
        French security forces move people in the area of Rue Bichat in the 10th District. A witness told BFMTV that firefighters were on the scene to treat the injured.
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        The EU has pledged a 3 billion euro fund to support these countries. This is a good start, but it is only in the planning and pledging stage.
        Second, global efforts to address the refugee crisis can involve other, more distant, countries, which are able and should be induced to take refugees. Countries such as Brazil, which accepts refugees from Syria, should be lauded and supported in their efforts to welcome asylum seekers and resettle refugees. Indeed some Syrians have already recognized the Brazilian opportunity and headed that way.
        Countries willing to take refugees -- and the communities within these countries, willing to host them -- must be recognized and rewarded.
        The attacks in Paris on Friday are yet another wake-up call. Until the conflicts in the Middle East are resolved, the spillover-- both in the form of terrorist attacks and refugee flows -- will be felt much farther afield.
          Paris is the latest target, but it will not be the last. Refugees and the conflict that displaces them are a global problem and need a global response.
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