Our readers around the world might be wondering if Refugee Resettlement Watch should be soon named the Emporia Refugee Watch! However, Emporia is a very visible microcosm of the growing unrest in America about Refugee Resettlement and as such may serve to help others wondering what to do in their own cities and towns. And, it is visible thanks to the Emporia Gazette’s on-line blog where readers can instantly react to the news. Check out the latest article and the extensive comments here.
A common thread throughout the recent controversy in Emporia and indeed the common theme in communities where it is found that refugees have been quietly resettled is, how did this come about? Who is promoting this? Where can we find answers?
“The city commission feels we need to have a public meeting,” Zimmerman said. “Invite all the agencies to come talk about costs involved. … I think it needs to come from the agencies that are doing the work. And we’re going to invite the people who are talking on the blogs. The city commission feels there’s a lot of legitimate concerns.”
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The city, Zimmerman said, needs to have a role in finding answers to the questions raised.
Yes, you should have a large public meeting and invite all of your elected officials. The most important ones are the federal officials because they are responsible for funding Refugee Resettlement. We highly recommend you invite the U.S. State Department, Asst. Secretary of State, Office of Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey.
Reform needed: Do you know that for more than 30 years if the federal government expends money on any project that affects the quality of the human environment, the federal government must complete an environmental impact statement and hold public hearings? I’m thinking it’s high time the Refugee Act of 1980 is amended by the insertion of a requirement for a SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT that would preceed the expenditure of federal money for Refugee Resettlement in a community. Such an initiative would answer (in advance) all the questions that citizens everywhere are asking.