U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff met with Karnig Kalijian, a Syrian-Armenian who was displaced by the Syrian civil war.

Congressman said he invited him to join the Joint Address to Congress.

“Let me tell you a little about Mr. Kalijian. He and his family endured long hours without electricity or water, and the constant fire fights and air raids forced them to leave Syria in 2012. They moved temporarily to Armenia, thinking they could wait out the unrest there, but after several weeks Mr. Kalijian realized the severity of the conflict and moved with his family to the United States. The family left behind their home, everything they owned and Mr. Kalijian’s successful two factories. Mr. Kalijian, his wife and two children became U.S. Citizens and live in our community.

Millions of Syrian civilians have been displaced by the now six year old war in Syria, and I firmly believe the United States must continue to be a beacon of freedom and compassion for those seeking safety and shelter,” Mr. Schiff wrote on Facebook.