First Syrian Family From Surge Resettlement Program Arrive in Kansas City

The first Syrian family under the surge resettlement program arrived to Kansas City, Missouri on April 6.

U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Alice Wells, right, meets with Syrian refugee Ahmad al-Abboud, center, and his family at the International Airport of Amman, Jordan, Wednesday, April 6, 2016. The first Syrian family to be resettled to the U.S. under its speeded-up "surge operation." AP Photo/Raad Adayleh

The first Syrian family under the ’surge operation' resettlement program arrived in Kansas City, Missouri on April 6.

The family of seven, originally from Homs, Syria, arrived to America from Jordan through a sped-up “surge operation” for refugees.

Ahmad al-Abboud, 45, is being resettled with his wife and five children after escaping from the civil war in Syria. He said he is thankful to Jordan, where the family has lived in for three years, and said he is ready to start a new life in the United States.

I'm happy. America is the country of freedom and democracy, there are jobs opportunities, there is good education.

— Ahmad al-Abboud, refugee