But, he is up against a buzz saw—likely the most significant “Pocket of Resistance” anywhere in the country.
A what? A pocket of resistance?
That is a term one of Obama’s federal Office of Refugee Resettlement employees used at a 2013 refugee contractor pow-wow in Lancaster, PA to describe the citizens who were asking questions about the UN/US Refugee Admissions Program.
[T]he keynote speaker talked about how ‘Welcoming America’was working to get YOUR minds right about your new refugee neighbors (and, they received a federal grant from ORR to do it!).
Originally from Tennessee, David Lubell launched Welcoming America, a non-profit the feds hired to tamp down what they termed as ‘pockets of resistance.’ Lubell was later awarded Obama’s ‘Champion of Change’ award.
Before Susan Downs-Karkos from ‘Welcoming America’ spoke, we had been alerted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Director of Placement, Mitiku Ashebir that (gasp!) “three pockets of resistance against new arrivals” had developed. He assured the gathering it was not widespread and that Pennsylvania, thankfully, was not one of them. Drum roll please! Here are the pockets of resistance and Mr. Ashebir’s brief description of the unwelcoming problems:
New Hampshire—some mayors have problems, said Ashebir
Georgia—budget reductions for some service providers
Tennessee—they want to control arrival numbers! Imagine that!
As far as I know the resistance in Georgia and New Hampshire has been brought under control by Leftwing refugee industry activists, but they have not been able to quell the rebellion by Tennessee patriots who are hopping mad at the governor for going against the President and saying—send us more poor people from across the world. (Lee caves here.)
Consequently, see this mornings news about the uprising against the governor, a governor conservatives put their faith in and now feel he has betrayed them.
From the Dailyrollcall.com(every state should have a publication like this one to keep especially your Republicans accountable):
Bill Lee Tithes For the Federal Refugee Resettlement Program With Taxpayer Money
Why do millionaires like Bill Lee feel so free to use state tax dollars to live out their personal religious beliefs?
Remember when Bill Lee was campaigning and trying to dazzle gullible voters with his “brilliant” idea for an Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives?
Good ol’ country boy Bill Lee bows to Leftists that run the big urban centers of Tennessee.
Once elected he launched this initiative and it may end up being the vehicle for Bill Lee to funnel more state dollars to pad the pocketbooks of federal refugee contractors and other groups that want to get into the lucrative refugee resettlement business.
In fact, Bill Lee told us as much while he was on the campaign trail:
“My wife has worked in a ministry that serves Kurdish refugees, I’ve been to Kurdistan and served with refugees from ISIS in refugee camps,” Lee replied. “I believe that the work of nonprofits is powerful and important, and that’s what this is about. And I am a Christian, so my experiences and my work with non-profits that are doing effective work has been Christian organizations, so that’s what I talk about, because I talk about my experience, and I will support works that are doing, meeting some of the greatest challenges in our community that I believe government shouldn’t meet, it’s not the role of government to do that. But it is the role of the nonprofit community and I would encourage that kind of work, for sure.”
But he might just use the government to provide the greenbacks – we’ll get to that in a minute.
So why is anyone surprised that when offered, he jumped at the chance to say “YES!” I want to put Tennessee back into the refugee resettlement program!!!
And because of the 50-100 mile placement rules from the four urban centers where the federal resettlement contractor offices are located, when he consented for Tennessee, he pretty much put every county in the state up for grabs.
Judith Clerjeune an immigrant activist in TN is thrilled with the governor. But you can bet they still won’t vote for him next time around. https://www.tnimmigrant.org/judith
Conservatives in Tennessee who put Bill Lee in office get a lump of coal for Christmas while the radical left TN Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) congratulates it’s lobbying effort on the consent push:
“We thank Governor Lee for his moral clarity and leadership in making his decision today…‘Refugee communities across Tennessee have played a powerful role in defending not only the resettlement program but the values and aspirations of this country’, said TIRRC Policy Officer Judith Clerjeune. ‘We will continue to work with refugee leaders and partner agencies to advocate for a robust and generous resettlement program.”’
During Bill Lee’s campaign his first major policy initiative was his “Roadmap for Rural Tennessee” which he highlighted by riding around on a tractor and talking about “his farming roots” and about how Tennessee is just one generation away from losing this way of life.
Not sure what happened to all that rural love, because what we have now, is the rural governor scrooging Tennessee’s rural counties in deference to the urban-based federal contractor resettlement agencies.
As of this writing, Lee’s ‘welcome refugees’ letter is not on file at the US State Department. See if your governor is here.
The nine federal refugee contractors salaried workers are working day and night to get those consents into the State Department by Christmas. Therefore….
As a proud life-long resident of Springfield and in response to a City Council resolution – No, I will not be issuing a letter of consent to the White House, U.S. Department of State, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in support of continuing refugee resettlements in Springfield.
It’s time for other much more affluent communities to take on their fair share.
My position has been very clear on that this issue taxes our city and school services and calls into question the accountability and follow-through aspects of refugee agencies, who not too long ago, placed a number of refugees in condemned housing units. We have a number of residents in Springfield who need assistance and that will continue to be the concentration of my efforts. Springfield has proudly done more than its fair share on this issue.
As a recent Boston Federal Reserve report indicated about Springfield – “you cannot continue to concentrate poverty on top of poverty.”I ask, as those more affluent communities demand of Springfield, to step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is — to take on their fair share of social justice responsibilities. The familiar tune I always hear from these much more affluent communities is that we do not have the capacities for refugees, the homeless, subsidized housing and methadone clinics.
Springfield is at capacity – the ball is now in their court.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays – God Bless.
Domenic J. Sarno, Mayor of Springfield
The mayors letter echos a common theme of many America Firsters! Take care of our own poor and vulnerable citizens first!
Also, readers should know that the rules that guide the President’s reform initiative say specifically that it is county governments that must opt-in or opt-out of the resettlement program.
For each state and locality where the applicant proposes to resettle refugees during the award period, the applicant should seek written consent for resettlement of refugees from the state governor’s office and the chief executive officer of the local government (county or county equivalent).
Springfield is in Hampden County and when I visit the State Department’s list of siteswhere elected officials have said, sure send us more poverty, I’m not seeing Hampden County listed. For Massachusetts at this time, I’m seeing five city governments are going to create an additional tax burden on their citizens, but no counties have weighed-in.
I have no idea what the feds are going to do about this apparently great misconception!
It is not too late! You should still be trying to get your governors and county commissioners to say NO, not this time!
The federally-funded refugee resettlement contractors*** are working overtime (and LOL! probably receiving overtime pay!) to get governors and county elected officials to send their consent to ‘welcome’ refugees to your state and county by Christmas.
Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolf was the first governor to send a letter to say his state would be thrilled with more refugees. His letter arrived in mid-October, weeks before the official funding guidance was released by the State Department. Clearly the contractors had a jump on soliciting elected officials.
The consents will be good only for a portion of this fiscal year (2020) beginning in June.
News accounts are too numerous for me to write about, except I will find time to write about any counties in America that join Appomattox, County, Virginia! Or, where any patriots put up a fight!
And, if the contractors fail in court—yes, of course, they have filed a lawsuitto stop the President’s reform initiative—the process is expected to be repeated for the 2021 fiscal year which begins October 1, 2020.
However, although news accounts are plentiful, actual approval letters on file at the US State Department are sparse as of this morning.
Click hereto see which governors and which counties have signed up.
Note that cities have sent approvals, but according to the funding guidance, here, it is the county government that must opt-in or opt-out.
If you have opened RRWfor the first time with this post, please see my category ‘Where to find information’for all the news on the President’s Executive Order.
The contractors are working to acquire as many consents by Christmas so that they then know how to craft their grant proposals which are due in to the State Department by January 21st. This whole initiative is built around federal money (your money) for the contractors.
***For new readers these (below) are the nine federally-funded refugee contractors that monopolize all refugee placement in America. For decades they have decided in secrecy where to place refugees and they don’t want to lose that power because even as they pontificate about their religious convictions and humanitarian zeal, they are Leftwing political activist groups working to change America by changing the people and using your money to do it!
As conservative Virginia watchers decry the state’s slide into the blue, there are still pockets of patriots in the heart of the old dominion where some elected officials are standing up to the Democrats.
Described as the “heart of Virginia,” Appomattox County stands out this morning as one such place.
There may be others, but I think I would have heard of them—counties that are backing the President and telling his State Department that they don’t want any refugees in 2020.
You need to know that Appomattox hasn’t been a resettlement site, but you also need to know that the President’s offer to weigh-in on the issue is not limited to historically prime refugee placement sites.
Frankly anywhere in America is vulnerable as I pointed out here, here, and here:
Virginia’s Democrat Governor Ralph ‘blackface’ Northamwas one of the first governors in the nation to tell the State Department—send more refugees our way because we have run out of poor people in Virginia and we need more reliably Democrat voters (who want free stuff) to eventually outnumber the deplorables. (He didn’t exactly say that, but that is what he means!).
The vote against becoming a refugee placement county comes in the wake of a virtual civil war going on in Virginia over gun rights.
UPDATE: (WSET) — Appomattox County voted in support of a resolution refusing to become a refugee sanctuary.
In the heart of Virginia!
The Appomattox County Town Council voted to refuse to become a refugee sanctuary because they don’t have the funds to provide services to refugees.
[….]
Chairman Samuel Carter said the county is economically depressed.
He says the county would have to provide safety, education and housing for refugees.
“Finding the appropriate property in all to house this,” said Carter. “Is this going to interfere with future buildings or structures?”
Carter said there are a lot of unknowns in becoming a refugee sanctuary, which is why they support the town.
He said the county also doesn’t have an influx of refugees re-settling to the area.
Residents said they are happy with the board’s decision and they agree with the county.
The update jumps to an earlier story.
It is important for you to know about the Second Amendment fight going on in Virginia. Interesting that Appomattox County elected officials have connected the issues.
APPOMATTOX Co., Va. (WSET) — More than 70 localities in Virginia have voted to become a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary’ sending a message to state lawmakers they want to protect their right to bear arms, but a local county is trying to send another one.
Leaders in Appomattox County approved a resolution in November.
By becoming a Second Amendment Sanctuary community, the Board of Supervisors says it will oppose, within the limits of the law, any efforts to unconstitutionally restrict gun rights and use legal means to keep it from happening.
The decision to start declaring localities a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary’ comes after Virginia Democrats took control of the General Assembly in the latest election.
Governor Ralph Northam said he plans to pass stricter gun laws that include universal background checks.
Northam also announced in November that Virginia will continue to welcome refugees fleeing danger and persecution after President Donald Trump signed federal Executive Order 13888.
Even if you haven’t been a prime target for the placement of refugees or for the placement of unaccompanied alien children, your county can go on record.
Go herefor the address at the US State Department. And, check out which states and counties have said YES to more refugees,here.
LOL! I don’t know if the State Department plans to list counties that say NO!
Don’t be confused by the cities that have sent consent letters, it is county commissioners who are the decision-makers according to the State Department funding guidance.
Those are the rules in order for the refugee contractors to get more money after June 2020.
For new readers these (below) are the nine federally-funded refugee contractors that monopolize all refugee placement in America. For decades they have decided in secrecy where to place refugees and they don’t want to lose that power because even as they pontificate about their religious convictions and humanitarian zeal, they are Leftwing political groups working to change America by changing the people and using your money to do it!
Funny that I just reported in my previous post about Minnesota’s Leftwing ‘religious’ (aka Interfaith) groups, about how good the cultural Marxists are at community organizing, and that we need grassroots groups that put America First!
What do you know! some are organizing on our side—on the side of Christian conservatism.
Here is a postfrom Conservative Christians of Tennessee about how their Republican governor has gone all wobbly on whether Catholic Charities, working for the US State Department, can just willy-nilly send Africans, Asians and Middle Easterners to the state for Tennessee taxpayers to support.
Bill Lee Looks Refugee Gift Horse in Mouth, Considers Kissing
One doesn’t often arise from a peaceful slumber on a Saturday happy and well rested only to experience an almost instantaneous mood change. That happened today.
Thanks, Bill Lee. Yeah, the same guy we endorsed as “Best Choice” for Governor of Tennessee. Our peaceful Saturday morning slumber was wrecked with limp-wristed political wavering.
The reason we’re hopping mad at 5:00 am on a Saturday morning is that Bill Lee didn’t immediately accept President Trump’s recent gift to states, an executive order allowing states to reject refugee resettlement within their borders. We wrote about this recently in our article, “President Trump Just Revolutionized America’s Refugee Program.” We were excited to think that the Federal Government would stop forcing states to permanently accept refugees that the states then had to eternally support. CCOT felt that state’s rights and self-determination were being uplifted in our highest halls of government.
Since even Liberal USA Todaysays that more than half of immigrants are on welfare, we assumed that Governor Lee would additionally see this as a clear-cut issue of food fiscal policy for Tennessee.
Continue reading to see how the Republican governor is waffling.
And, near the end we see that Conservative Christians describe real Christian charity as it relates to refugees as this:
Conservative Christians of Tennessee has long held that the refugee program is destructive in its current form. US Policy should encourage Christian Ministries to meet and assist refugees as close to the point of conflict as is possible and prepare them to return to their point of origin to help rebuild the nations they have left.
We have long advocated for real Christians to use their private charitable dollars (not taxpayers’ wallets) to do their charitable good works abroad.
Additionally, protecting refugees in their own cultural zones is infinitely kinder than shipping them thousands of miles away and dropping them in places like Chicago!
Do you have a Conservative Christian group in your state? If not, why not?
If you haven’t called your governor and county government leaders, know that the refugee contractors*** are pushing for Christmas to get their consent for more refugees into the US State Department.
The more I learn about the globalist billionaires funding the open borders movement the more I realize why they hate Donald Trump so much.
Don’t get too discouraged, remember you are up against Hard Left community organizers who are heavily funded by the likes of George Soros, Paul Singer and Michael Bloomberg to name just three of the globalists hiding behind phony humanitarianism.
What they really want, but dare not say it, is a free flow of cheap labor across the planet.
Go to the State Department website here to see which governors have signed up. Note the city governments. I don’t know what the feds will do about that as the guidance says county commissioners are the elected officials who must decide on the local level.
***For new readers these (below) are the nine federally-funded refugee contractors that monopolize all refugee placement in America. For decades they have decided in secrecy where to place refugees and they don’t want to lose that power because even as they pontificate about their religious convictions and humanitarian zeal, they are Leftwing (anti-Trump) political agitation groups working to change America by changing the people and using your money to do it!
