Efforts to head off possible resettlement of refugees in York County, SC was slowed when a resolution put forth by one member of the council failed (although it was never put to a vote), but remember that we are up against powerful forces in some states.
In South Carolina the Republican Governor has already signaled her support of more refugees being resettled in a state which heretofore hasn’t been overloaded (unlike most states surrounding SC). And, the powerful Senior Senator of the State—Lindsey Graham—is openly advocating for the resettlement of Syrian refugees to America. I suspect that when Graham says “jump” the R’s (who desire upward political mobility) in the state do what he says.
So…. this effort is not wasted because it has obviously generated a discussion (and a controversy) that other local citizens are now learning about.
Here are a couple of short snips from The Herald:
….the ordinance worries refugees will receive federal assistance to resettle in the U.S., that they might not work or learn English, become burdens on the taxpayer and “build enclaves, preserving the language and culture of their countries of origin rather than fully integrate into the surrounding community.”
The motion drew support from speakers at Monday night’s meeting. Joe Newton of Norcross, Ga., spoke before the council wearing a “Stop Refugee Resettlement” T-shirt. He told the council that schools in the Atlanta area have been “overwhelmed” by previously settled refugees who speak 150 languages.
New refugees would “increase that to 200 languages, plus 18 dialects spoken by the Syrians,” Newton said.
Governor Haley could stand up for the Tenth Amendment and against federal dumping of the costs of this program on the states if she had any backbone.
She might not succeed (yet), but the state’s rights issue is one she, as a Republican, should be championing. This is a very reasonable proposal.
If it had been approved, the resolution would call for Gov. Nikki Haley to stop resettlement until its effects are studied separately by the State Law Enforcement Division and several state departments: Social Services, Labor, Education, and Health and Environmental Control. Resettlement should not resume until every refugee is cleared by the Department of Homeland Security, and “Each South Carolina State Senator holds several Town Hall meetings in his or her district … to determine that there is not substantial public opposition.”
More here.
Go here and see the locations of resettlement contractors in the US. If you are within 100 miles of any of them, your town is fair game. I suggest going on the offense and alerting your local elected government that this expensive and potentially risky resettlement of third worlders might be coming your way.
See our growing archive on South Carolina by clicking here. This post is filed in our ‘Pockets of Resistance’ category, here.
