Oxfam protests Trump's refugee policy outside his childhood home

Oxfam protests Trump's refugee policy outside his childhood home
Oxfam invited refugees who have settled in the US to Donald Trump's childhood home in New York, in a bid to have the country recognise the contribution immigrants have made.
2 min read
18 Sep, 2017
Refugees welcome mat outside Trump's childhood house [Oxfam]

Oxfam have rented out Donald Trump's childhood home and displayed a "refugees welcome" mat at the entrance, ahead of the US president's first address to the UN.

Refugees from Somalia, Vietnam and Syria - who have resettled here in the US - were invited to tell their stories at the president's former New York home in the hope the he takes note of their messages, struggles, and contributions to the country.

Uyen Nguyen fled Vietnam aged ten-years-old and was invited to the home, telling reporters about the struggles she faced as she escaped dangers at home.

"By the time my brother and I arrived in the refugee camp, we had already lost our mom, younger brother and little sister. They all passed away on the boat journey," Nguyen said. 

"After spending a year and a half in a refugee camp, we finally came to America and were greeted with such warmth and open arms by a diverse community in Southern California."

Nguyen says she wants the government to give more immigrants the chance to start new lives in the US.

"With this administration, it feels like new immigrants aren't given the same warm welcome. I have never talked much about my journey, but I now feel it's my responsibility to spread understanding of what it's like for refugees - and hopefully open the doors for those who need our support the most."

Shannon Scribner, Oxfam America's acting director for humanitarian programmes and policy, explained the aims of the project.

"Oxfam hosted refugees at President Trump's childhood home to declare that all people, refugees included, have the right to a safe place to call home," she said. 

"What makes America great is our diversity of experiences, ideas, talents, and the opportunity for anyone to succeed. What better place to represent that than the former home of the president of the United States in Queens, New York - one of the most diverse communities in the world."

Since the start of his presidency, Trump has been battling with US courts to implement the so-called "Muslim ban".

The immigration restrictions would bar entry to some of the world's most vulnerable people, including citizens from Syria, Libya, Somalia and Yemen escaping war and oppression.