Update: Do not miss the comments to this post!
Editor: This is another in our series of ‘comments worth noting’ and was posted by ‘jdelaney3 ‘ to our post yesterday, ‘Is yours to be a “welcoming” refugee community?’ I assure you that this reader knows what he is talking about!
Get organized! (from ‘jdelaney3’)
I urge folks to deluge local resettlement agency offices with phone calls to determine what refugees and in what numbers they plan to accept for resettlement during the remainder of the year. Put them on notice that you and many others will be watching.
If any of those refugees the agency is planning to resettle are, from all reports, improperly vetted, urge them NOT to “assure” (accept) them.
Keep your eye on these volags/ngos/gov’t contractors and call with regularity for updated information as to what refugees have arrived and what refugees are expected to arrive.
I would also contact City Hall and the County Executive to intercede as well in this regard.
Also, reach out to community organizations, many of which should welcome the opportunity to keep tabs on the refugee influx as well.
If the agency is a Catholic-supervised operation, e.g. Migration & Refugee Services–USCCB, also touch base with the Diocese as often as appropriate. Let them all know they’re being monitored.
It’s all about pressure and oversight which these refugee resettlement operations are terrified of.
Finally, if you know folks who have firsthand familiarity with the local resettlement office staff and operation, ask them to keep you posted. Not all who work for or volunteer for these agencies are lackeys.
So how do you find your local resettlement agency offices? Click here and if you live near one of these offices know that they can resettle refugees in nearby towns—up to 100 miles or about a two hour drive away.
But, here is step 2! You have got to get what you learn out beyond your own little circle! Write a blog or website, write letters-to-the-editor, develop a social media network, make youtube vids, whatever it takes!
Use your free speech while you’ve got it!