Here is a story about an Iraqi refugee who died in St. Louis a few years ago when he and a group of other immigrants brought their own soccer goal to a public park, didn’t secure it and he died when he tried to do pull-ups on it.
His family sued the city and just this week received $40,000 in a settlement. It wasn’t more because the jury decided his death was mostly his fault.
ST. LOUIS • A St. Louis jury awarded $40,000 Thursday to the parents a young man who was crushed by a soccer goal in Wilmore Park.
Karrar Abudarb, a 19-year-old son of Iraqi refugees, had been playing a pick-up game of soccer with 11 of his friends when the fatal accident happened the night of Nov. 19, 2007. According to witnesses, Abudarb hung from the metal crossbar of a portable goal and did some pull-ups, causing it to tip over and crush his skull. City paramedics declared him dead at the scene.
[….]
The makeshift goals that Abudarb and his friends used were next to regulation sized fields and anchored goals that the city provided. But, according to court testimony, the group used the portable goals because they had a small number of players and needed a smaller field.
City Counselor Thomas McDonnell argued the city could not be held responsible for equipment that other people bring into its parks, and said Abudarb knew the goal was not anchored — he helped move it prior to the game — and he realized the risk but swung from it anyway.
Just in the last month we’ve seen Somalis, Bhutaneseand Bosnian refugees killed in St. Louis. Has anyone seen any updates on these murder cases?
The United Nations is working overtime to figure out what the heck to do with millions of Afghans that Pakistan wants out of their country NOW! (see ‘Why can’t Muslim countries keep them?’) so they have apparently been ignoring a small group of Iraqi Kurds that want out of Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, June 24: Iraqi refugees who came to Pakistan during the Gulf war about 23 years back held a protest demonstration against the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) here on Monday.
The protesters said because of the double standards of UNHCR, the Iraqi Kurd refugees could no be settled in any country.
They chanted slogans against the UNHCR during the protest outside the National Press Club and said it was only giving preference to Afghan refugees and ignoring the Iraqis. Adnan Noori, one of the refugees, said there were only 25 registered Iraqi refugees in Pakistan.
“We want to be settled in any country in which we can get protection and secured future,” he said.
The refugees said they cannot be settled in Pakistan as Islamabad was not a signatory to the international convention relating to the status of refugees.
“But we can be settled in any other country. However, no one is willing to resolve our grievances.”
Younus Mehmood said they had been facing lots of discrimination at the hands of the UNHCR staff in Islamabad.Local NGOs have been dealing with the Iraqi refugees but because of lack of interest they never bother to resolve their issues.
They also requested the government of Pakistan to help the Iraqi Kurd refugees.
According to Northern Voices Online(a publication from Northern India), 2,000 Syrians have already been approved to come to the US in 2013, along with 30,000-40,000 additional Iraqis! I guess this is another bit of new information for the Republican immigration wizards, those boys in a bubble—Rubio and Graham.
Taking names? Angelina Jolie meeting with Syrian ‘refugees’ this week. Demotix / Splash News
WASHINGTON, Up to 2,000 Syrian refugees pre-approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would start new lives in America in 2013, US officials said late on Wednesday Kelly Gauger, a senior official with the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration responded to reporters at a briefing, marking World Refugee Day on June 20 (today), where she explained that DHS has not been able to gain access to Syria since March 2011, when demonstrations leading to the current conflict began.
The 2,000 Syrians coming to the US were interviewed in person and adjudicated more than two years ago, but would be subject to further US government screening.
As for Iraq refugees, Gauger noted there were also between 30,000-40,000 Iraqi refugees with pending applications. Since 2007, 86,000 Iraqis have been admitted into the US. [Someone tell Senator Rand Paul!—ed]
According to Simon Henshaw, also a senior official with the bureau, 70,000 refugees from around the world will be admitted to the US this year.
Refugees considered for resettlement by the US must have already fled their home country, and were referred by UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency.
The US typically accepts half of all UNHCR referrals.[I bet its a lot higher percentage than that!—ed]
Also, the Obama Administration has just extended Temporary Protected Status for Syrians already in the US, but I’ll post separately on that.
Immigration reporter Elise Foley seems to sneer at Senator Paul and may have purposefully left a few facts out of this article on Paul at HuffPo yesterday— ‘They Bring ‘Em In,’ Sign Them Up For Welfare.
Huffington Post immigration reporter Elise Foley
Perhaps we should direct Ms. Foley (and her editors!) to our new Fact Sheet here at RRW!
Paul is exactly correct in paragraph one:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on Wednesday that the U.S. should be skeptical of accepting refugees, from Iraq in particular, because they take welfare and could plan attacks on American soil.
She continued, in paragraph two, with a glaring error (one I feel sure Paul did not make and if he did should have been given the opportunity to correct). And, yes, Ms. Foley we did have refugees attack us here (have you forgotten about the Tsarnaevs in Boston?). But, that isn’t the error I’m focused on here. It’s not 95 people of 70,000 on food stamps, it is 95% of 70,000.* By leaving it uncorrected she clearly is happy to make Paul look ridiculous because who would quibble with 95 refugees out of 70,000 getting help with food.
Foley continued quoting Paul:
“We have had refugees attack us here.Ninety-five [percent!–ed] of our 70,000 Iraqi refugees are on food stamps, majority are in government housing, 46 percent are unemployed,” he said on “The Simon Conway Show” — incidentally a day before World Refugee Day [reporter snark!—ed]. “It’s one thing to have a big heart and invite people to our country, and if you do it in a small fashion, the churches and the people take care of them, that’s one thing. But like in my town in particular, they bring ’em in and there is someone whose job and expertise is to sign them up for welfare as soon as they get here.”
Paul has it exactly right, a taxpayer funded refugee resettlement contractor in Bowling Green gets the refugees signed up for welfare benefits and then this idea, that Paul throws out of churches and people taking care of refugees (privately!), is the solution to our entire refugee mess! It has been my view from day one that if refugee families were PRIVATELY sponsored by churches or civic organizations (no contractors!) for a year or two we wouldn’t have the huge drain on the federal treasury; tensions between refugees and the community would be lessened; and we would have a better chance that refugees would ASSIMILATE!
Paul questioned previouslywhy we should be taking Iraqis to America in the first place since we gave them a democratically elected government and their internal Islamic (Sunni v. Shia) squabbles are not our problem. But, here Ms. Foley wants the reader to believe that Iraq is still our problem because we went to war there. There is the legitimate Christian persecution issue, but we (US State Department or even the Catholic Bishops) are not going out of their way to rescue Iraqi Christians anyway.
The U.S. has a long tradition of accepting refugees and has resettled more than 3 million since 1975, according to the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Since 2007, the country has admitted nearly 85,000 Iraqi refugees, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with more people fleeing the country due to escalated violence stemming from the Iraq War. [Or stemming from their Islamic internal conflicts—ed]
***Update*** State Department said yesterday that 30,000-40,000 Iraqi refugee applications are pending, here.
Senator Paul’s amendment to beef up security measures in the Gang of Eight bill was defeated:
Paul proposed an amendment to the comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate, which he called “Trust but Verify,” that would increase the already intensive screening of those refugees and asylum-seekers.
Opponents of the amendment, which failed 37 to 61, argued that among other things, it painted foreign students, refugees and asylum-seekers as potential terrorists. The amendment would also hold up a path to citizenship in the “gang of eight” immigration bill until Congress had voted that the border was adequately secure.
Paul did the unthinkable according to Ms. Foley! He used the word refugees in proximity to the word terrorist! So, Ms. Foley what about the Iraqi refugees sentenced to prison in KY or the Tsarnaev carnage in Boston? We have nothing to fear from refugees that would warrant a little extra screening?
In a statement ahead of the vote on his amendment, Paul referred to refugees in one sentence, and then terrorists in the next.
“Individuals here under asylum or refugee status must register in a program providing increased screening and a means to make sure that the federal government has an idea where people in these programs reside,” he said. “We should remember that most of the 9/11 hijackers were here on visa overstays.”
Paul also said, if Iraqi refugees aren’t finding work, maybe they should just go back to Iraq! Funny thing is, disgusted with America after finding life is tough here, some have gone back to Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East, but the State Department isn’t telling you that!
* Readers, this statistic 95% of Iraqi refugees are receiving food stamps comes from the 2009 ORR Annual Report to Congress. The figure may have improved since then, but we don’t know because every day the ORR is breaking the lawby not supplying Congress with the reports for 2010, 2011 and 2012. There are only two possible reasons for failing to submit those reports—incompetent management or they don’t want Congress and the public to know how horrible the stats are for refugee employment and welfare use (or how much largesse the contractors are receiving!).
Maybe Senator Paul should look into the missing reports problem. Hint! Contact Ken Tota, Deputy Director ORR, 202-401-4858.
Syrian refugee protesters at a refugee camp in Jordan. So Homeland Security is supposed to sort through this and only bring us the good people? Photo: Khalil Mazraawi – AFP/Getty Images
We’ve been suggesting for months (here) that this day would come when the US State Department would start making noises about bringing Syrian refugees to your towns and cities.
But, as recently as a month or so ago a top State Department official told a gathering in Fort Wayne, Indiana that a population (he was answering a question on Syrians) had to have been “refugees” for five years before being considered for refugee status. It sounded bogus to me! Guess it was!
Below is the disastrous news at theLos Angeles Times. (Hat tip: Jim). Just as the Senate is considering making it easier and more lucrative for government contractors to bring in larger numbers (more easily) of refugees and political asylees through S.744, we will be inundated with Syrians. So, when you call your US Senators today about voting NO on the “comprehensive immigration reform” tell them NO Syrians either! And, if you are thinking there might be some Christians in the bunch, I assure you we won’t single those out for resettlement!
Once they open the spigot, they open it wide!
Just for your information we have already brought 12,396 Iraqis to America in the first 8 months of FY2013! Most of them are on food stamps, other public assistance and not working!
Los Angeles Timesstory recognizes the pitfalls, perpetuates some myths:
WASHINGTON — Two years into a civil war that shows no signs of ending, the Obama administration is considering resettling refugees who have fled Syria, part of an international effort that could bring thousands of Syrians to American cities and towns.
A resettlement plan under discussion in Washington and other capitals is aimed at relieving pressure on Middle Eastern countries straining to support 1.6 million refugees, as well as assisting hard-hit Syrian families.
The State Department is “ready to consider the idea,” an official from the department said, if the administration receives a formal request from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, which is the usual procedure.
The United States usually accepts about half the refugees that the U.N. agency proposes for resettlement. California has historically taken the largest share, but Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia are also popular destinations. [See which states are the top resettlement states in the USand will be asked to “welcome” Syrian Muslims—ed]
U.N. refugee officials, diplomats and nongovernmental relief groups plan to discuss possible resettlement schemes at a high-level meeting this week in Geneva. Germany already has committed to taking 5,000 people.
Remember as you read this that Lavinia Limon worked for Bill Clinton and brought the Bosnian Muslims here and then the early Iraqis. USCRI is a federal RESETTLEMENT CONTRACTOR, not a “service group.”
“It was probably inevitable that in this crisis, with these overwhelming numbers, governments would start moving in this direction,” said Lavinia Limon, chief executive officer of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a Virginia-based advocacy and service group. “But there will be resistance.”
The Obama administration supports rebels trying to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad, but is wary of deeper involvement in Syria.
The issue is politically sensitive on several levels.
Congress strongly resisted accepting Iraqi refugees, including interpreters who had worked with U.S. forces, after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Most lawmakers share White House caution about getting more engaged in Syria and may have little appetite for a major influx.
The duo of Samantha Power and Susan Rice being involved is further evidence this will be a disaster for your town or city.
But Susan Rice, President Obama’s new national security advisor, and Samantha Power, Obama’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the U.N., both have been strong advocates for refugees. They may make the White House more receptive to at least a partial opening.
Much will depend on who (if anyone!) raises the security issues. Honestly the only really possible opposition leader on this will be Senator Rand Paul who ‘gets it’ about the security risks after the discovery of Iraqi refugee terrorists found to be living in his home town of Bowling Green, KY!
Homeland security officials require careful vetting of refugees, with multiple interviews and background checks before they are allowed to enter the country. Under normal circumstances, the screening process can take a year or longer.
U.S. officials are likely to be extra careful with Syrian refugees. As Islamic militants take a more prominent role in the rebel forces, officials worry about fighters with Al Qaeda ties trying to enter the country. Two resettled Iraqis were convicted of trying to send arms to Al Qaeda from their home in Bowling Green, Ky.
The article goes on to report that Middle Eastern officials say the resettlement won’t be worth it if we and other Western countries don’t take tens of thousands!
Then we have some, pardon the expression, Bull S*** from the State Department:
Western officials try to discourage poor foreigners who are seeking a more comfortable life or business opportunities in the West. They say resettlement is only for those who can’t go home, and seek to dispel notions that an easy life awaits.
According to a State Department publication aimed at refugees, “Cars are not provided…. Most Americans value self-reliance and hard work. They expect newcomers to find jobs as soon as possible and to take care of themselves and their families.” [67% of Iraqis are not working and 95% are on food stamps. And, as for this business about cars, we don’t provide cars but YOU pay into a matching savings account that every refugee is allowed to set up and purchasing a car is one of the programs goals.—ed]
Another sensitive issue is who qualifies for resettlement. Western countries often prefer intact, well-educated families with familiar religious backgrounds. [Gee, that’s news!—ed]
But experts say 80% of the Syrian refugees are women and children, many with war-related injuries or psychological problems that could hamper finding work or going to school. [These will be very costly refugees who will be bringing the men as soon as they can!—ed]
Please spread the word on this and tell your friends and family members to call their US Senators and say NO to S.744 and NO to importing Syrians!
Please send this to your facebook and twitter friends!
Update June 11: UN wants Germany to take 10,000, here. Next we will hear that the UN wants the US to take 50,000 when we have just committed to take 50,000 Congolese.
The United Nations is working overtime to figure out what the heck to do with millions of Afghans that Pakistan wants out of their country NOW! (see 
