Editor: Every day since we posted the first action alert from Tennessee citizen activists who want to make sure the ‘unaccompanied minors’ now surging across the Texas border don’t end up in Tennessee, it has been our Top Post every day (see right hand sidebar for Top Posts).
This is a follow-up alert for Tennesseans which readers in other states might use as a model. Tell your elected officials wherever you live—no illegal alien drops in your state!
And, tell them to suspend all other refugee resettlement in FY2014 and FY2015 until the border crisis is resolved.
2nd ALERT Re: Border Surge and Tennessee – New Information
Refugee resettlement contractors say don’t give their money to the children. They want the money for their businesses! These contractors are paid to bring refugees to Tennessee.
This year Congress increased funding for refugee resettlement contractor business to $1.489 billion, an increase from last year’s $1.12 billion but still short the additional $1.6 billion that refugee contractors demanded.
Federal refugee contractors like the TN Office for Refugees (TOR) operating in Tennessee, are complaining that the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) may use some of the contractors’ money to help the children crossing the border. TOR says that if their money is reduced they won’t be able to help the refugees they have brought to Tennessee. To date, there has been no suggestion by TOR that they would reduce the number of people they plan to bring to the State.
The federal contractors have been directed by their leadership to lobby Congress for more money, which in part is why Pres. Obama’s original request of $2 billion in emergency spending for the border is now $3.7 billion. If Congress approves this request, the illegals will get to stay and TOR will get all its money. Why shouldn’t the contractors get to save their cake and eat it too?
A high percentage of minors are trying to reunite with family members living in the U.S. who may not be here legally. In 2013, President Obama directed immigration agents to try not to deport illegal immigrant parents in the U.S. who have minor children. The refugee contractors are paid to unite the minors with anyone claiming kinship regardless of whether that person is in the country legally.
Once these minors are released, they must attend public school. In Tennessee, K-12 education and all services including breakfast and lunch programs, must be provided. Under certain circumstances, TennCare must pay for their emergency medical care. Will Tennessee schools also have to ban the American flag to avoid offending non-citizens?
Eventually, the illegal minors are supposed to appear for an immigration hearing. Of the $3.7 billion Obama has requested, approximately $15 million would pay lawyers to represent the minors at their hearings. The ACLU has already sued to make sure the minors have lawyers, citing a report that says that immigrants with lawyers are five times more likely to win their cases than those who represent themselves.
On July 12th, Rep. Marsha Blackburn visited the Ft. Sill relocation facility in Oklahoma where approximately 1,100 illegal minors are housed. Is she considering a recommendation for TN?
Tennessee’s political establishment including Gov. Haslam, Lt. Gov Ron Ramsey and Speaker Beth Harwell and Tennessee’s Republicans in D.C. except Rep. DeJarlais, signed on as co-chairs of Lamar Alexander’s reelection campaign.
They agreed to help Lamar after he voted for amnesty.
Contact the D.C. politicians and tell them that if they plan to help the minors, then:
• TOR and other federal contractors must accept a reduction in federal money and suspend further FY2014 resettlement in Tennessee.
• Federal contractors must suspend all other FY2015 refugee resettlement until the border surge issues are resolved. Every year the U.S. resettles approximately 140,000 refugees and asylees; estimates of border crossers will well exceed these totals.
Sen. Bob Corker – 202-224-3344, http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme
Sen. Lamar Alexander – (202) 224-4944, http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Rep. Marsha Blackburn – 202-225-2811, https://blackburn.house.gov/contactform/
Rep. Diane Black – (202) 225-4231, https://black.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Rep. John Duncan – (202) 225-5435, https://duncan.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Rep. Steven Fincher – (202) 225-4714, https://fincher.house.gov/contact/email-me
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann – (202) 225-3271, https://fleischmann.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Rep. Phil Roe – (202) 225-6356, http://roe.house.gov/contact/
Contact Gov. Haslam, Lt. Gov. Ramsey and Speaker Harwell and tell them that any plan to assist the federal government with the border surge must be approved in a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly:
Gov. Bill Haslam – (615) 741-2001, bill.haslam@tn.gov
Lt. Gov. Ramsey – (615) 741-4524 or (800) 449-8366 x14524, lt.gov.ron.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov
Speaker Harwell -(615) 741-0709, speaker.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov
All of our coverage of the ‘unaccompanied minors’ (aka unaccompanied alien children) is here.