In order to better acquaint himself with foreign policy, Ben Carson, retired pediatric neurosurgeon and Republican candidate for US president, toured refugee camps in Jordan.
Carson was impressed with the camps, suggesting that these refuges be better funded so that they can support additional refugees until the conflict in Syria subsides and they can return home. Syria has been embroiled in a bloody civil war for several years, making life difficult, and in some cases unbearable for civilians in many parts of the country.
Carson was able to visit the Azraq camp in northern Jordan. He was escorted by heavily armed Jordanian security personnel, and journalists were kept away. Carson’s entourage also had limited access, and his itinerary was not made public.
Caron questioned the wisdom of encouraging refugees from leaving the camps, and especially the controversial policy of resettling refugees in the United States.
“You’ve got these refugee camps that aren’t completely full. And all you need is the resources to be able to run them. Why do you need to create something else?” he asked.
He was also left wondering if it was truly possible to screen refugees properly before allowing them into the US.
“What I learned is that you’re going to get a different answer from everybody depending on what their slant is,” he said, referring to his known opposition to allowing Syrian refugees to flee to the United States.