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The U.S. border is swamped with hundreds of thousands of migrants who want in 鈥� and border states are fed up.

But the other part of the story involves the volunteers around the country who think immigrants deserve the benefit of the doubt. Christopher Koehler is the Director of Immigrant Assistance at on 9th Avenue and Marion Street downtown.

鈥淲e look at people fleeing Ukraine, and we understand they’re fleeing war,” Koehler said. “And we don’t understand that it’s the same type of thing with climate change and with political violence or with widespread community violence. People are driven to leave. Nobody comes just because they think the grass is greener, right? They come because things are so terrible at home.鈥�

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He thinks we spend way too much time trying to chase away people who just want work.

鈥淲hich makes it difficult to actually focus on criminals, and criminal activity, because you’re spending all your time focusing on these people who are really coming here just to contribute,鈥� Koehler said.

He understands that Americans worry that bringing in too many immigrants will change the culture, but he has a suggestion before you give in to the fear.

Maybe volunteer with one of these assistance programs and find out for yourself. There are programs for asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees run by churches, and programs to aid Afghan refugees run by mosques.

“We have to recognize that that change process is something that instills fear in people especially when they feel like they’re losing the way their life has been,” Koehler said. “Those types of fears go away when people meet each other.鈥�

And if you need an extra incentive 鈥� I鈥檓 told that when a refugee finally gets citizenship, there鈥檚 always a party. With free food.

Listen to Seattle鈥檚 Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O鈥橞rien weekday mornings from 5 鈥� 9 a.m. on 成人X站 Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the聽podcast here.