A&Q is a special series that inverts the classic Q&A, taking some of the most frequently posed solutions to pressing matters of policy and exploring their complexity.
The Syrian refugee crisis has called into question how nations should address the millions of embattled people fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries.
In the United States, Democrats and Republicans have gone head to head on how to approach the situation. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton has said the United States should welcome refugees, while Bernie Sanders has called on the international community to respond, along with the U.S.
And, on the Republican front, Donald Trump has made it clear that Syrian refugees are not America’s problem, and he and other Republicans are against them being admitted to the country altogether. Ted Cruz has called for halting the entry of refugees “from countries with significant Al Qaeda or ISIS presence” following attacks in Brussels.
The crisis has also shaped up to be a sticky issue in Congress: The House introduced a bill to curb the number of refugees from Iraq and Syria admitted to the United States; Senate Democrats blocked the bill.
Meanwhile, as the heated debate persists, the ongoing global crisis remains unresolved. The United Nations has deemed it the worst refugee crisis since World War II. And the plight of desperate migrants trying to leave their countries of origin—often under perilous circumstances—has been documented, and refugee photos have circulated around the world, inspiring many people to action. So how should the United States respond?