L to R: Jeffrey, Nancy, in March at the Roman forum. If their ancestors entered Rome, it wasn’t as citizens. Not shown: Joey, left behind in New York.

Jeffrey is back in NYC, preparing for the 2017 Ride, which begins on April 18.

He’s home because at JFK Airport on March 31, U.S. Customs and Border Protection let Jeffrey in.

Jeffrey was prepared to defy federal agents’ demands for access to his mobile phone and social media accounts.  He erased his phone before disembarking from the airplane, so that even if seized, the phone would yield nothing.  But Jeffrey’s readmission to the U.S. was accomplished in moments via a Global Entry kiosk.  No one from CBP asked Jeffrey anything.

It was a time-consuming pain to restore Jeffrey’s phone at home.  Some apps disappeared.  Never mind.  It was worth it to protect Jeffrey’s clients’ confidences as he prepared to stand up for American citizens’ rights—only to be ignored.

Some other American, some other time, will be the plaintiff in a test case to challenge CBP’s claim of right to see our most intimate secrets at the border.

“Well, OK, they let Jeffrey in without fuss,” you say.  “Jeffrey is a citizen.  He’s not a scary scimitar-swinging gun-toting bomb-making Syrian terrorist!”

Yes.  But as an American citizen, Jeffrey is more likely than a Syrian immigrant to be a terrorist or criminal.  Acts of crime and terror in America are carried out disproportionately by Americans!

While we’re letting in American Jeffrey—who by the numbers is a risk—whom does the present administration seek to keep out?

If you’ve followed this blog, if you’ve “Seen Us On TV” through the links at the top, you know Renaz and her family.

Scary Muslim family from Aleppo, Syria, on a Thanksgiving 2016 visit to NYC.  Not shown: scimitars, firearms, bombs, hate literature.

Renaz is unusual in her willingness to speak up.  She is brave—all of Jeffrey’s refugee clients are brave—and because her extended family has escaped from Syria, she is not afraid that they will suffer on her account.

Renaz arrived in the USA in 2013 with a valid visa.  She followed American law, availing herself of the right to ask for refuge.

If the present American regime had not been stopped (for now) by Federal courts, Renaz would not be allowed to board an airplane in 2017 to come to the U.S. to plead her case.

If Renaz and her family had been barred from the United States, would you feel safer?  Would our country be better off?

Let Renaz speak for herself.  Hear her stories on Meet A Syrian Family and Refugees Renew America, two new videos (less than 2 minutes each).

Shame on Americans for giving in to nightmares peddled by American extremists.

Let’s stick with the current refugee and asylum system.  It already carefully screens and evaluates refugees and asylum applicants before they join our community.

Let’s keep the Golden Door open for people like Renaz.

Then let’s give Syrian refugees, and ALL refugees, a warm American welcome.