Press Release: International Rescue Committee (again) on low Trump refugee admission numbers

04/12/2018 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

In a press release dated yesterday, the Manhattan-based International Rescue Committee (IRC) asks its followers to contact members of Congress and Senators to pressure the Prez to fulfill the 45,000 refugee CEILING set by Trump last fall.

brexit-news-tony-blair-1072435 — From his perch in Manhattan, Miliband pulls down a nearly $700,000 annual salary (doing well by doing good!) while he dabbles in UK politics, specifically the Brexit controversy. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/856974/Brexit-news-Tony-Blair-EU-latest-news-Concordia-summit-David-Miliband

At the present rate the Trump State Department will admit about half that number and the resettlement contractors*** are shaking in their boots.
Each refugee admitted represents money, your money, to their budgets and reports are that at least one of the nine that have monopolized all resettlement to the US for a decade might not survive.
That is not true for the IRC, it is rolling in money….
Which reminds me (as I read this press release)—where is “moneybags” Miliband? Why is he not quoted? Too busy mucking around back home in the UK?
This press release wouldn’t be worth mentioning except for one nugget I found interesting (and for the fact that I love writing about this super rich Manhattan-based taxpayer-funded organization making decisions for small city/town America.).
Here is some of it:

New York, NY, April 11, 2018 — Midway through the 2018 fiscal year, which ends September 30, just 10,584 refugees have been resettled to the United States. By contrast, 39,098 refugees were welcomed to the U.S. in the first half of the 2017 fiscal year—even with the slowdown on admissions due to the Trump Administration’s refugee bans. This decline in refugee admissions represents a stark 73 percent year-over-year drop. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) projects that a series of excessive red-tape vetting and processing changes will result in no more than 23,000 refugees being resettled in FY18, barely achieving 50 percent of the ceiling.

[They are so deceptive, the reason the number is so high, 39,098, for the first half of FY17 is because Obama presided over October, November, December and most of January and his outgoing State Department was pouring them in as fast as they could before Trump was inaugurated.—ed]

Now this next bit is rich!
Here we have Hans (most likely still a Dutch national) who works for a British national (David Miliband) lecturing us about “core American values.”

Said Hans Van de Weerd, Vice President, US Programs, International Rescue Committee:

“Halfway through FY18, the U.S. is establishing a record on resettlement that runs counter to core American values of freedom and welcome and strategic interests abroad.

I can’t believe that they think they can still sell this silly notion, that somehow by curtailing immigration to the US from Muslim countries, we make Islamic terrorists angry (angrier?) with us.

Hans bald — Hans Van de Weerd lectures us on “core American values!”

“Drastically diminished refugee arrivals have detrimental consequences for U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, including fueling the anti-American narratives of the very terrorist organizations we aim to defeat. The Trump Administration must change course in the second half of FY18 and meet its commitment to admit 45,000 refugees.” [For the umpteenth time, the 45,000 is a CEILING, a cap, NOT a target!—ed]

Now, here comes the part that interested me most.

We know that the contractors have been dependent on the large number of SIVs entering the US (Iraqi and Afghans who supposedly gave us support at some point) to help feed their budgets (see my recent post here). However, apparently even those numbers are dropping (eeeek!).

Shocking drop in March in admissions of those who assisted U.S. missions

Without explanation, only 510 Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients arrived during the month of March, a more than 68 percent drop compared to average monthly arrivals in FY17.

Total SIV arrivals overall in the first half of FY18 have declined by 28 percent compared to the same time period in FY17.

I wonder (if there is a slowdown), if it is because they are running out of places to put them. Supposedly most go to San Diego or Northern Virginia where there is an overload of SIVs and as we reported here, they aren’t finding work.

U.S.-affiliated Iraqis (P-2s) left behind

These are supposed ‘beneficiaries’ and their family members. They always say they are translators, but they could have been taking out the garbage. See here.

U.S.-affiliated Iraqis are individuals who provided critical services, like translation, to U.S. missions abroad and now face persecution as a result.

Conservative estimates suggest that there are approximately 50,000 Iraqis with close affiliations with the U.S. government waiting for interviews to have their cases for resettlement processed.

Yet, only 36 U.S.-affiliated Iraqis have arrived in FY18.

Then here is Hans’ wrap-up:

It’s time to pressure the Administration to pick up the pace on refugee resettlement. Take action now.

Click here to see what they want their groupies to tell Congress.
You should tell your member of Congress and US Senators what you think too, but honestly I have little hope they will get off their duffs and do anything, so right now, it is best to Contact the White House and tell the Prez to hang tough!
And, for fun, ask him why we pay David Miliband over a half a million a year so he can do his anti-Brexit political agitation work in his home country.
See my David Miliband archive here. Waaahhh! What will I do when he finally goes home!

*** I post the contractor list almost every day because I want new readers to know exactly who is responsible for driving the US Refugee Admissions Program (in addition to the UN!).
The number in parenthesis is the percentage of the nine VOLAGs’ income paid by you (the taxpayer) to place the refugees, line them up with (low paying) jobs in food production and cleaning hotel rooms, and get them signed up for their services! From most recent accounting, here.

Brookings has questions about refugee policy for Secretary of State nominee Pompeo

04/12/2018 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

This is really a kind of ‘nothing-burger’ article from a policy wonk at the Brooking’s Institution attempting to influence the Far Left Dems to ask questions about refugees when Trump’s new pick to head the US State Department, Mike Pompeo, goes before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today.

Pompeo and Trump — Trump: Mike Pompeo and I are on the same wavelength! https://www.today.com/video/trump-mike-pompeo-and-i-are-on-the-same-wavelength-1184613443805?v=b

Here is a bit of it. We can definitely agree with Jessica Brandt‘s opener—the Trump Administration needs to staff-up at DOS. But, they must assure people loyal to the President and his policies are in those appointed jobs!

Tomorrow [today—-ed], former CIA Director Mike Pompeo, President Trump’s pick to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, will come before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The hearing is an opportunity for congressional leaders to question him on a broad range of consequential subjects. Resourcing the State Department should be first on the list. It is difficult, if not impossible, to craft and implement an effective set of strategies on any foreign policy issue without the personnel in place to do so.

brandtj_portrait — Jessica Brandt is “a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a David Rockefeller Fellow of the Trilateral Commission.”

But exploring Pompeo’s views on refugee policy should also be a high priority. That’s for three reasons.

First, Pompeo has a history of expressing deep distaste for refugee policies he views as lax. While in Congress, he cosponsored a bill calling for an immediate ban on the entry of all refugees, regardless of their country of origin. The measure would have gone farther than then-candidate Trump’s controversial proposal to bar Muslim immigration. Later that year, after returning home from a study tour focusing on the migration crisis in Europe, he argued in support of Trump’s instincts on these issues in the Wall Street Journal.

You can read the rest yourself by clicking here.
Then this closer made me laugh. These Leftists can’t help themselves. In an article at the venerable Brookings Institution, Ms. Brandt can’t resist the snark!

Pompeo’s answers to these questions could reveal a great deal about how he plans to approach a sensitive, consequential issue. I hope he plans to be more forward leaning than his predecessor. But given his record, I doubt it.

And, btw, what the heck is “forward leaning?” I think we know….

South Dakota: Meet Taneeza Islam, your friendly Muslim (activist) next door!

04/11/2018 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

I wish I was tech-savvy and knew how to design a Bull S*** meter for stories like this one.
Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)/Muslim Brotherhood activist to speak in Huron, South Dakota on Sunday (April 15th) to assure all of you that there is nothing to fear from migration of Muslim political activists to the Great Plains!
She believes in meeting those who belong to “vilified” groups, she says.
That is so funny because, by intimidating the speaking venues, she actually shut down events in South Dakota a few months ago where speakers who disagree with her political views were scheduled to speak. Wasn’t she vilifying them with her actions?
It would serve her right if the tables were turned on her and she was silenced! (But, we don’t do that because we believe in free speech!).
See my Taneeza Islam archive here.
From the Huron Plainsman
(Sub-headline should read CAIR political activist to speak to ‘Connecting Cultures’)

‘Discussion on Diversity’ focused on Muslims

People are encouraged to attend a free “Discussion on Diversity” featuring Taneeza Islam of Sioux Falls at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Top Floor Events.

Screenshot (374)

A second-generation Muslim who was born in Michigan, Islam will talk about the Islam religion, as well as immigrants and refugees.

An RSVP-only lunch will be served during the event for a small fee (notice luncheon time change). Beverages and brownies will be available for everyone during the event.

Please RSVP lunch reservations to Amy L. Bennett at jampyview@yahoo.com and provide your name and the number of guests.

“We’re not trying to change beliefs, we’re trying to add value to our own,” said Amy Bennett, a member of Connecting Cultures in Huron, who was instrumental in organizing this program, along with Rhonda Kludt, Kim Rieger and Fern Marie Mattke, who helped secure a Thrivent Action Team Grant.

“Being Muslim in our nation can be very tenuous and painful for some,” said Bennett, who is Jewish. “How can we fulfill their lives without treating them like that? We want to respect someone else’s place or opinion. I’m willing to listen to your story and how it impacts you and understand how you feel that way.”

Bennett said she noticed a site for Taneeza Islam one day when she was looking at Facebook, and explored her further on YouTube.

“Her video was welcoming and approachable — with such a hot topic,” Bennett said. “We shouldn’t be afraid to have hard conversations.

What we should be afraid of is when we don’t have any conversations.”

Tell that to Ms. Islam!
At this point the Huron Plainsman gives a recitation of highlights from Ms. Islam’s bio, but fails to mention that she was CAIR Minnesota’s Civil Rights Director stirring up trouble for a St. Cloud high school in 2010, see here (among other things!).
In Islam’s own words:

“I believe the best way to overcome intolerance and hate is to actually meet a person from the group that is being vilified,” she said.

“I am the norm of what American Muslims are really like.”

LOL! But, that is precisely what we fear the most—that you, Ms. Islam, are the norm!
I’m guessing, but I think CAIR/Muslim Brotherhood wanted an Islamic political activist in South Dakota when they saw the opposition growing to more refugee resettlement there and Taneeza Islam is it.
Maybe someone should contact Ms. Bennett, since she wants to hear different viewpoints, and ask her to hold another luncheon for the opposing view on Muslim migration, CAIR, and sharia law in America! Wouldn’t that be the fair thing to do?
My very large South Dakota archive is here.

Refugee contractor Miliband needs to decide….

04/09/2018 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Is David Miliband going back to the UK, or is he staying in Manhattan to collect an exorbitant salary to manage the largest (financially) refugee resettlement agency in the US? When I see news like this, I wonder.
***Update*** See this amusing bit at the Daily Mail calling Miliband the “king over the water…”

Miliband and Obama 2 — Miliband applying the “double-hander” on you know who!

Maybe what he is really doing is waiting to jump back across the pond when something has been firmed-up there for him.
After all, the US resettlement program is experiencing tough times with fewer refugees, staff layoffs, head honchos bailing out, and even the possibility that the gang of nine will lose one whole agency this year.
(See Lutheran CEO—gone, and USCRI CEO—gone. )
And, there appears to be no hope for return of the good-old-days on the horizon based on what we are hearing out of the Trump Administration.
Here is the Financial Times on Miliband:

Labour fury and derision at prospect of new centrist party

David Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary who some centrists see as a potential leader, dipped a toe back into domestic politics last week when he called for a second Brexit referendum. “The threats to peace around the world are more acute than ever,” Mr Miliband wrote in the New Statesman.

As a pal of Soros, the Clintons, Samantha Power and Obama, I don’t know how anyone would call Miliband a centrist!
And, since we pay him nearly $700,000 a year to run the International Rescue Committee, doesn’t he have enough to do without dipping toes in UK politics?
See my archive on ‘Moneybags’ Miliband here.
In some ways I’ll be sad to see him go because he is fun to write about. Just 5 days ago I told you he was trash-talking Europe and saying countries there need to take more refugees.

Kentucky Somali says the UN picked Louisville as his resettlement destination

04/06/2018 ~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Hmmmm!

This is from a short article at The Catholic Record in Kentucky. It’s about how difficult it was for a new employee with Migration and Refugee Services in Louisville to learn the ropes about the resettlement process.
I can relate since I’m still learning the system after writing about it for nearly 11 years, but one bit caught my attention!
Here is what Catholic Charities of Louisville’s “employment team leader” Somali Ahmed Hussein told the new guy on the block:

One of my co-workers who is always willing to share his story and answer questions about his experience as a refugee is our employment team leader, Ahmed Hussein.

Ahmed is a Somali refugee who came to Kentucky after spending eight years in a Kenyan refugee camp. I remember when I first met Ahmed, I asked why they chose Louisville as a destination, and his response was really eye-opening to the entire resettlement process, “Man, we didn’t choose Louisville, they (the United Nations High Commission for Refugees) choose for you, and you take the destination they offer.”

You know what!
Since the US State Department and their resettlement contractors*** NEVER explain to the public how locations are chosen (it is one of the most closely held secrets of the whole process), we’ll go with Mr. Hussein’s explanation until we get some real answers!
And, have a look at this graphic I found. It’s a couple years old, but it does give you some idea of where the UN is placing Somalis!

Somali cities map — I missed this article in 2016: http://stumpinfortrump.com/2016/03/19/somali-tsunami-obama-sending-700-per-month-u-s-cities-despite-admitted-terror-recruitment-problem/

This is the Top Twenty list of cities (targeted by the UN?) from that map:

Minneapolis-St. Paul – 646
Columbus, Ohio – 412
Buffalo, N.Y. – 361
Syracuse, N.Y. – 307
Dallas-Ft. Worth – 302
Salt Lake City, Utah – 276
San Diego – 275
St. Cloud – 243
Louisville, Ky. – 236
Phoenix, Ariz. – 218
Seattle, Wash. – 212
Erie, Pa. – 207
Atlanta – 159
Glendale, Ariz. – 155
Tuscon – 154
Boston – 153
Houston – 150
Nashville – 148
Kansas City, Mo. – 145
Portland, Ore. – 132

See my Kentucky archive, here.

Contact the President by clicking here. Tell him it is time to get the UN out of our refugee resettlement business!

*** These are the nine major resettlement contractors who keep this secret well: How is your town or city chosen?
I post the contractor list almost every day because I want new readers to know exactly who is responsible for driving the US Refugee Admissions Program (in addition to the UN!).
(Catholic Charities works for the US Bishops.)
The number in parenthesis is the percentage of the nine VOLAGs’ income paid by you (the taxpayer) to place the refugees, line them up with (low paying) jobs in food production and cleaning hotel rooms, and get them signed up for their services! From most recent accounting, here.