Month: July 2007

Saving the Iraqi Christians

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

I’ve just been away for 24 hours (went to Ft. Dix, NJ so look for a post on that soon), and things are boiling on the issue of Iraqi refugees. You should read Doug Bandow at Frontpage magazine yesterday on the subject: “The Death of Iraq’s Christians”
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=29191

A representative at the US State Department told me this past week that all religions from Iraq would be included in the resettlement that begins soon. 

” Christian America may soon be the death of Iraqi Christians,” says Bandow.

I’ve noticed in conversation with individuals involved in refugee resettlement , the “church” contractors/subcontractors, that they are driven by some sort of notion of wanting to help Muslims settle here before showing concern for Christians persecuted around the world. This is not based on any set of data, just an observation. Its almost as if they are bending over backward to show Muslims just what nice people we are.   And, the individual who does this work wants to prove what a good person he or she is— open-minded and enlightened.

There are 25,000 refugees (from all over the world) still to come to the US by the end of this fiscal year, Sept 30th. And, I will guarantee you that the largest percentage will be Muslim.

From reading the debate going on regarding opening the gates to Iraqi refugees, the position of the administration is that the war isn’t over yet and by letting in a flood of immigrants, its a tacit admission that the Iraqi democracy experiment has failed.

The Iraqiis did get their democratically elected government and its a Sharia government (based on Islamic law) which will likely have no place for the Iraqi Christians.

Warren, MI Mayor to Feds: Send Iraqis elsewhere

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Mayor Mark Steenbergh of Warren, MI reacted with shock and anger to learn that the US State Department, with the help of Lutheran Social Services, planned to begin resettlement of Iraqi refugees in this Detroit suburb very soon.

Many of us have found this to be a common practice.  The Federal government just drops the bombshell announcement and pretty much says, too bad to local concerns about schools, housing, welfare, and jobs.

 My biggest concern is where the refugees will find employment. Longtime Warren residents are having trouble finding jobs, said the Mayor.

Detroit News, July 19, 2007  http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070719/METRO03/707190375

In an increasingly common refrain, small and medium-sized city leaders are asking where the financial help will come from to support a tide of immigrants from half way around the world.

According to the Macomb Daily today, Steenbergh is correct that unemployment is very high in the whole state.

   http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/071907/loc_steenbergh001.shtml

The unemployment rate in Michigan rose to 7.2 percent in June, the highest point this year, the state announced Wednesday. The state jobless rate in May of 6.9 percent already was the highest in the country.

 

It’s kind of surprising to see the State Department and the non-profit “church” group attempt to resettle refugees in communities with high unemployment since they told us in Hagerstown, MD that job availability is a key factor in deciding where refugees will be sent.

Also, it is not clear from these articles what portion of the Iraqi refugees will be Muslim.   Certainly the Iraqi Christians are being decimated in Iraq and are truly persecuted by both the Shiites and the Sunnis. 

Since the Detroit area has one of the largest Muslim populations in the country it seems like sheer idiocy to bring Christian Iraqis to live alongside those who persecuted them in their homeland.

It’s almost pretty much useless to contact elected federal officials, especially on the Democratic side, in seeking help.   Rep Sander Levin, whose district covers part of Macomb County, released a press statement on hearing of the controversy.  

Rep. Sander Levin immediately refuted the claims by Warren officials.

“The information released today by the city of Warren is inaccurate and misleading,” Levin said in a news release. He said his office was told Wednesday by the State Department that those 25,000 Iraqis would be relocated over a number of years and in nine different regions of the country.

I called the State Department seeking confirmation of the statement about nine regions and where exactly they were and was told that my inquiry was referred to the…..

“public affairs office for clarification and someone will get back to you in the next day or two.”

Where are the nine regions you ask?  Well, at a meeting in Hagerstown, MD this week, a representative of Virginia Council of Churches said that Harrisonburg, VA is an approved “Iraqi receiving area”… so that’s two….Warren, MI and Harrisonburg, VA…Only seven to go!

More when we get it!

My recommendation for answers, if refugee resettlement is coming to your community, is to call the US State Department directly (see contact info. in the Fact Sheet at the top of this blog)  and don’t rely on your Democratic Senators and Congressmen (they will be useless, and you will waste time while you think they are doing something).  Take action by going directly to the people.  Get a grassroots letter writing campaign going to the local newspapers and TV stations. 

 

Not everyone wants to come

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday that refugee workers were stunned to learn that almost an entire Eritrean tribe has chosen not to resettle in the United States.   The Kunama think they will end up in slavery like Kunte Kinte, or beaten by police.  Where did they get this idea?   From Islamic militiamen who have shown them the film “Roots”.

But, as you read further there is more to the story than that.   The tribesmen are agrarian people attached to the land.   One wonders if we do them any favors by bringing them into America cities to live in low income housing and work 12 hour days at local factories and warehouses, removed from everything they know.

In fact, some in the US who would like to see Refugee Resettlement reformed suggest we could be of more help with less expense by helping these displaced people where they live.

SHIMELBA REFUGEE CAMP, Ethiopia — A strange thing happened here recently on the long and twisting refugee trail to America.

More than 4,000 war-displaced pastoralists belonging to Eritrea’s Kunama tribe, some of them languishing in this malarial holding camp for years, received a golden offer that the world’s 9 million other refugees only dream of: free resettlement in the land of riches and liberty, the United States. Yet, to the bewilderment of aid workers, the overwhelming majority of Kunamas answered with a resounding, “No thanks.”

…..

…in 2005, the Kunamas won the equivalent of the global refugee jackpot: The UN successfully nominated the oppressed minority for resettlement to the United States.

….. 

Reasons besides fear

Most refugee workers have pegged the tribe’s reluctance to leave Africa to romantic notions, particularly a deep attachment to the land. And many older people in Shimelba, who still cook their meals on the ground and are unfamiliar with the operation of a doorknob, did seem unwilling to stray too far from their nomad’s paradise of white thorns and red earth.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-refugees_salopekjul17,1,5840080.story?track=rss

The first of those in the tribe who will venture to America will arrive in Florida and Nevada this week according to the Chicago Tribune.

Hagerstown MD Refugee Resettlement meeting today, more to come

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Refugee Resettlement had been going on in Hagerstown, MD for a few years before it registered on most peoples’ radar screens.   Its a relatively small program run by the Virginia Council of Churches (VCC) as a subcontractor to Church World Services.  You can learn more about it in our Fact sheet (above).

An incident occured in the fall of 2006 when a refugee child of about 12 years of age was found knocking on doors in a pretty bad neighborhood looking for help for a very sick mother.   The authorities were baffled when they didn’t know where this African child came from or understand what the child said.    When the child’s apartment was finally located, emergency responders discovered some extremely sick people, but since no one knew who they were or where they were from, and most importantly what they might have, a panic ensued and the street was closed, a Hazmat team called in. 

It was an embarrassment for Virginia Council of Churches and the Maryland Office for New Americans who wisely decided they needed to coordinate better with local agencies, thus the monthly meetings.   Most of us, including elected officials, were not aware of the meetings until recently.

But, the controversy didn’t end with the Hazmat incident.   A few months ago the local VCC representative made appeals to the Hagerstown City Mayor and Council and to the Washington County Commissioners for $25,000 and $15,000 respectively to help run the refugee program. 

Washington County is a very conservative (red in a blue state!) county.   Irate citizens bombarded the local governments and the Hagerstown Herald Mail with complaints about spending local tax dollars for a federal program. 

To make a long story short, the Refugee Resettlement program is suspended here through the remainder of the fiscal year and VCC will not be participating in the “Bulge” (Post below) here in western Maryland.

Also, at today’s meeting it was determined that there should be a Public Forum, tentatively scheduled for September, at which local citizens can learn details of the Refugee Resettlement program, how it works, who pays for everything,  and how the community could be impacted.

This is the kind of thing that all of you should be insisting on in your cities and towns—open public meetings to discuss the impact of immigrants on your community.   Everyone is entitled to all the facts because only with  facts can citizens truly participate in the democratic process.

US rides to the rescue in Malta

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

They are lining up around the world to come to America. 

The tiny Mediteranean island nation of Malta is being overrun with illegal immigrants leaving northern and eastern Africa trying to get to the European Union countries to the north.   Like all countries faced with a flood of illegals, Malta’s social services, security, public order and social fabric are strained.  The EU has not been helpful.

But fear not, the US is coming to the rescue.   According to a July 13, 2007 article in the “The Times” of Malta, “Refugees flock to Valletta for chance of move to US.”  

Refugees made it clear yesterday they would gladly leave the island for good as they thronged outside the UN Refugee Agency’s office in Valletta hoping to qualify for the resettlement scheme to the US.

The police had to be called in to disperse the crowd of about 200, who tried to get into the UNHCR’s office in Strait Street, Valletta.

About 200 refugees are to be resettled in the US in a move that is expected to go some way towards easing Malta’s illegal immigration woes. Though the initiative is a one-off, the US government is contemplating taking in 200 immigrants from Malta every year thanks to a proposal steered by the UNHCR.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=267992

[note how easily this article interchanges the words refugees and illegal immigrants]

Yes, the UN High Commission on Refugees says jump and since we have so many border crossing illegals of our own we can just start taking other countries  law breakers.   What’s 200 more illegal immigrants here or there anyway?