Syrian refugees

Florida is the largest recipient of refugees in the U.S, welcoming more than 62,000 refugees last year. That’s according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

Thursday on First Coast Connect we discussed the international refugee crisis. Jacksonville University is hosting a panel discussion on the topic this week. We heard from University of North Florida professor Leslie Kaplan; Travis Trice from World Relief, which assists local refugees; and Amy Stalker, the president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the United Nations Association. Host Melissa Ross also spoke with Dr. Sarah McLaughlin from the Mayo Clinic about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Willis Jones, of the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens, told us about its upcoming ArborEATum Wine and Food Fest.  

A bill to slow the flow of refugees may not have reached the governor's desk, but its impact will still be felt by those looking to resettle in Florida.

Republican Representative Lake Ray’s measure was aimed creating stricter guidelines before allowing Syrian refugees to relocate to Florida.

A Russian warplane was allegedly shot down near Turkey's border with Syria Tuesday morning. Syria has been embroiled for four and a half years in a brutal civil war that has killed hundreds thousands of people, and sent millions of others fleeing.

The incident at the border with Turkey comes as the nation continues its heated debate about the resettlement of Syrian refugees.

This week, Florida Coastal School of Law will host a panel discussion on the crisis and the legal issues around refugee resettlement. We speak with Ericka Curran, immigration attorney and Clinic Director with the school, and Florida Coastal law student Elizabeth Lazar. Her family, Assryian Christians from Iraq, fled persecution there decades ago. 

We discuss the week's top news stories with our roundtable of local journalists: Ron Littlepage, Florida-Times Union columnist; Fred Matthews, Examiner blogger; Matt Shaw, Folio Weekly editor; and Tim Gibbons, Jacksonville Business Journal editor.

Topics include Mayor Lenny Curry and Gov. Rick Scott asking Congress to stop plans to accept Syrian refugees following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, the first of several community conversations about whether Jacksonville should expand anti-discrimiation laws to cover LGBT citizens, and more.

In the aftermath of the terror attacks in Paris, U.S. officials at all levels of government are questioning the country’s system for accepting Syrian refugees.

Skeptics worry allowing a proposed 10,000 resettlements could put people at risk.

But descendants of older Syrian refugees in Jacksonville want to remind locals of their community’s existing presence.