We told you about Missoula County Commissioners’ invitation to the federal government and its contractor, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) here just the week before last.
My suggestion for citizens of Montana, who have concerns about the United Nations picking refugees to be seeded in the state, is to call for a public hearing on the matter. If the county commission is bent on going down this slippery slope they should bring together all of those who will be involved in a public hearing format and require them to tell Montana citizens exactly how the program works.
The funniest part of the letter is that these naive local elected officials think they will have any say about the number to be resettled. That decision will be made in Washington between the IRC and the US State Department—just ask mayors of Manchester, NH, Springfield, MA, and Amarillo, TX if they have any say in the numbers!
Additionally taxpayers should be demanding a plan from the IRC/US State Dept and the Office of Refugee Resettlement at HHS.
Demand a plan!
In 2014, the mayor of Athens, Georgia demanded that these same agencies (IRC in Georgia) present a plan to the city of Athens before refugees would be resettled. They refused to give her a plan. Last I heard the stalemate was continuing.
And, you must now read this! The IRC head honcho in Georgia tells the mayor to take a hike—US State Department will be making the decisions, not you!
Have a look at the letter the Missoula County Commissioners have sent to Anne Richard, click here.
Somehow their ignorance about what they are getting into is so much more striking when you actually see the letter they sent.
Go here for more on Montana, one of two states that has not received refugees in recent years.