This is a story we have written before, not the specific refugee nor the specific city, but the story about violence perpetrated against refugees as the resettlement contractors overload poor neighborhoods with third world refugees (many of whom have lived protected lives in UN camps) who don’t know how to live among thugs who are not at all moved by the multi-culti myth that diversity brings strength.
There are too many diverse ethnic groups being dumped into cities across the country by Federal resettlement contractors (they call themselves VOLAGs. They are anything but Voluntary!) and the US State Department where the ‘humanitarians’ apparently believe that a melting pot still exists, melting will happen, and everyone will live happily ever after.
See our many posts on problems in Buffalo, NY, here.
By the way, Buffalo political leaders think the many immigrants are going to save their city. But, be sure to check out what is happening in another New York city—Utica—-the town that “loves refugees” where the city has sued the state of New York for more tax payer funding as its school system is deteriorating due to a large influx of needy children from the third world. Ten years ago, the UNHCR gave Utica the title and used their report on Utica as propaganda around the country to convince other towns and cities to “welcome” refugees.
From the Buffalo News:
Only after laborious therapy has the Burmese immigrant of Karen ethnicity regained movement in his right arm. The comfortable room is not in a hotel, but in Terrace View nursing home near Erie County Medical Center. Wah has been hospitalized since a mugging last June left him paralyzed, a disheartening symbol of the assaults and break-ins afflicting the immigrant population on Buffalo’s West Side.
The county executive last week celebrated the recent influx of immigrants, which has staunched the county’s three-decade population bleed. The other side of the immigrant story is K’Paw Wah. He was born and raised in a Thai refugee camp, after his parents fled from oppressive Burmese rulers. He and his two daughters four years ago followed his older brother to Buffalo.
Wah’s dream of freedom ended violently. Heading home from a West Side convenience store late one night, he was jumped by at least two men with, he recalled, “their faces covered.” The attackers, Wah told me in halting but clear English, threw him hard to the ground, breaking his neck.
Is your town considering “welcoming” refugees?
If so remember you will need more funding, more police, more translators, etc. etc.
Wah’s fate is the grimmest reminder of the fragility of the immigrant population. Buffalo’s West Side is the end point for Burmese, Somalis, Burundi and other newcomers. Circumstances render them vulnerable and tough to protect. Language barriers, a lack of translators and a distrust of police related to abuse in their homeland contribute to their problems. Critics say police and city officials have been slow to respond to the challenge. Dozens of frustrated Burmese went public with their complaints this month at a Common Council meeting.
Lisa Strand said similar community outreaches the past several months have spurred good-faith efforts from police.
“There’s recently been a lot of progress,” said Strand, attorney for Buffalo’s Legal Aid Bureau. “But the police need a formal translator-access plan and to grasp the larger scope of this.”
Who is responsible for overloading Buffalo with refugees?
Remember that we told you last week that Lutheran Social Service is responsible for the Somalis in St. Cloud, well, whew! look at this! We have five of the nine major contractors divvying up what must be a large flow of refugees to Buffalo (and LOL! I bet they each fight to keep their number of paying ‘clients’ up). From the very handy US State Department list of subcontractors with offices in 180 or so US cities:
CWS (Church World Service)
NY-CWS-07: Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc
Address:
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214-2152
Phone:
716-882-4963
DFMS (Episcopal Migration Ministries has changed its name to: Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America)
NY-DFMS-07: Journey’s End Refugee Services, Inc
Address:
2459 Main Street, Suite 317
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone:
716-882-4963
HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society which recently dropped the ‘Hebrew’ from its name!)
NY-HIAS-06: Jewish Family Service Of Buffalo And Erie County
Address:
70 Barker Street
Buffalo, NY 14209
Phone:
716-883-1914
USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops)
NY-USCCB-02: Refugee Assistance Program Catholic Charities
Address:
20 Herkimer Street
Buffalo, NY 14213
Phone:
716-842-0270
USCRI (US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants)
NY-USCRI-02: International Institute Of Buffalo, Inc.
Address:
864 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
Phone:
716-883-1900