What the Ebola crisis taught us about refugees

It was just over a year ago that the first case of Ebola was diagnosed in the U.S. As more cases were detected in the U.S., Florida Sen. Marco Rubio planned legislative action to impose travel bans, and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst suggested President Obama did not care if Americans contracted the virus. 

Fast forward a year: As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 28 governors had opposed, refused or suspended the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks, according to NBC News. But is such a ban necessary?

Ronald Klain, who appointed the White House’s “Ebola czar” to address the health crisis, took to Twitter Tuesday to remind Americans of the three lessons he learned from managing fears about refugees in the wake of the Ebola crisis:

(1/5) #Ebola experience offers 3 lessons for managing fears re: refugees coming to US. (Remember debate over travel from W. Africa to US?)

— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) November 17, 2015

(2/5) First, must acknowledge fears & address — not dismiss as illegit (that only exacerbates fear & fuels doubts about leaders’ candor).

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— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) November 17, 2015

(3/5) Second, must explain that NOT acting – giving into fears –is more risky (i.e., blocking refugees will RAISE the threat to the US).

— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) November 17, 2015

(4/5) Third, must show that gov’t has a plan to manage the risk – not ignoring risk, but taking active, serious steps to reduce it.

— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) November 17, 2015

(5/5) This is how we beat a proposed “#Ebola travel ban” in Oct/Nov 2014, and how misguided anti-refugee action can be stopped now.

— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) November 17, 2015