Editor: This is another copy of testimony submitted in response to my offer to post testimony that readers have sent, or are sending, to the US State Department before May 19th. Your testimony can be long or short, more detailed or less so. Just send something! And, then be sure to copy it to your elected officials.
Less than 24 hours left to get something in to the US State Department!
From Elena:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am opposed to any expansion of the refugee population in this country. I reside in Missoula Montana where a new International Rescue Committee Office is scheduled to open. To my knowledge there has been no formal refugee integration plan. I asked one of the Missoula County Commissioners, who signed a letter welcoming the refugees, when would the Reception and Placement (R & P) Abstract be available to the public? She had no clue as to what I was talking about.
According to a recent local paper article, what was initially promised has already changed.
Here is what the Missoula Independent was now reporting:
“When the IRC’s request was approved, the prospect that refugees placed in Missoula would actually originate from Middle Eastern countries such as Syria seemed slim, as Syrians make up a small portion of those currently entering the United States.
However, IRC officials now say resettlement of Syrians appears more likely. Most refugees who relocate to the U.S. are placed with relatives, but Missoula’s fledgling program will likely draw from the roughly 30 percent of all arriving refugees who don’t have U.S. family ties.”
We have seen nothing in writing that provides any of the following information:
A list of the countries from which the refugees will come:
Health Care Access and Refugees with Special Needs:
Public Outreach:
Employment Services:
Housing:
Educational Services (language):
Also unknown are details regarding how long they would remain on Federal subsidies and what happens when those subsidies end?
There’s a major difference between “immigrants” and “refugees”. Both don’t even come near to being similar to those coming to America in the 19th and 20th centuries. Back then their first stop was Ellis Island and they had to have a sponsor. Today they seem to be colonizing rather than integrating and accepting our culture and government.
Lastly, if the refugee resettlement in Europe and Australia is any indication of what we in America can expect, then we better take a long and hard look at ANY resettlement program and plans.
This is the ninth testimony in our series leading up to the deadline for testimony at 5 p.m. on May 19th. Go here for where they are archived. We are posting as many as we can because we know the US State Department has refused in the past to make them public (so much for Obama transparency!).
Because I have so many of your testimonies, I promise to continue to post them even after the deadline has passed.
