It’s probably been two months since a couple of readers asked me where they could voice complaints and concerns about the refugee program. Sorry, I’m finally getting around to answering (this isn’t so much fun to write about compared to some other stories!).
You can forget about complaining to the Volags (the supposed voluntary agencies that are funded with your tax dollars). They will not listen.
Although he should be part of your repertoire for filing complaints, the US State Department, Asst. Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration won’t listen either—he is a hardcore Leftist ideologue on George Soros’ team—and won’t likely answer your concerns.
Most states have state coordinators. You can let them know how you feel. And, of course don’t forget to try to get your local media involved—an uphill battle because most are now so politically correct and raising any question about this program will get you labeled a racist, but don’t be deterred that is their tried and true strategy to silence good questions. [An aside: one of the reasons we write RRW is to balance the media puff pieces we see so frequently about anything to do with refugees—you know, we gotta balance the ‘refugees see first snow’ type of stories. You can’t make good policy decisions unless all the facts are known.]
But….
The State Department and the Office of Refugee Resettlement in Health and Human Services will sit up and listen if a Member of Congress or a US Senator is on their case (your tax money is the lifeblood of refugee resettlement and Congress holds the purse strings). So readers with concerns about the program must reach your own Representative or US Senators. As a matter of fact, there is a new report out from the Congressional Research Service seeking to answer the many concerns voters have already expressed to their members of Congress. It is dated January 4th and you should write and request a copy (US Refugee Resettlement Assistance) from your Congressman. Unfortunately after addressing a litany of questions that must have been going in to the Congressional Research Service, one glaring omission in its final recommendations is the option of severely cutting the number of refugees entering the US in a recession!
One of the big concerns mentioned in the report was the virtual non-existence of any consultation with local governments about refugees being resettled in large numbers in some locations.
And, this is very important. If you write to the Asst. Secretary of State, be sure to cc: your letter to your Member of Congress and both of your US Senators.
Find your Representative here. Find your US Senators here.
More important than just writing to your elected officials (write to governors too), is to put pressure on them otherwise. Visit them at home offices, write letters to the editor, contact influential campaign donors and others who share your concerns about large numbers of immigrants entering the country.
Keep on top of the issues in Congress.
A good place to check in daily is MicEvHill (a pro-migration blog, but a good source of what they are thinking and what is happening in Congress). Here is the February archive (you have to scroll down the whole month). Note that the open borders gang are not happy with the direction of the “immigrant restrictionists” in the House Judiciary Committee now that the Republicans control the House.
By the way, if your Representative or one of your Senators sits on the Judiciary Committee, its especially important for you to contact them with concerns and reform suggestions for refugee resettlement.
I see the Senate Judiciary Committee doesn’t have its subcommittee assignments. But the full committee is here.
Hope that helps. Take those comments you are sending my way and turn them into letters to your elected representatives.