Search Results for: Lawrence Bartlett

Sec. of State Tillerson attempting to clear huge FOIA backlog at State Department

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

The State Department is notorious for either delaying answering ‘Freedom of Information Act’ requests, or never answering them at all. In fact, although I used FOIA a number of years ago with another federal agency, I never bothered with it on the refugee issue knowing of the State Department’s horrible reputation for stonewalling the public. … Continue reading Sec. of State Tillerson attempting to clear huge FOIA backlog at State Department

Acting Asst. Secretary of State for PRM, Simon Henshaw, steps down

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

He says it has nothing to do with the fact that under the Donald Trump Administration the number of refugees being admitted to the US has plummeted. (I checked yesterday and in the first 2 weeks of January only around 200 came in.) For new readers, the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and … Continue reading Acting Asst. Secretary of State for PRM, Simon Henshaw, steps down

I repeat: all concerned citizens must ask to attend ‘Quarterly Consultations’ held by refugee contractors in your communities….

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

….transparency, transparency, transparency should be your mantra! The ‘quarterly consultation’ is required by law and the US State Department has confirmed that the general public is permitted to attend. One of the most important elements of the consultation is the discussion that should be held in public about how many refugees could be placed in … Continue reading I repeat: all concerned citizens must ask to attend ‘Quarterly Consultations’ held by refugee contractors in your communities….

St. Cloud, MN residents concerned with refugee resettlement told it is a federal issue

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

No it isn’t.  Local governments want to pretend they have no role so as to get the monkeys off their backs! First, here is the news about citizens appealing to the city council for a study about the costs of resettlement.  The council voted the proposal down by one vote and said this isn’t a … Continue reading St. Cloud, MN residents concerned with refugee resettlement told it is a federal issue

Here we go again, local resettlement agencies operating in secrecy

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Electing Donald Trump has apparently changed nothing in the way local refugee resettlement agencies contracted by the federal government treat taxpayers—the very people paying their salaries! I’m beginning to get calls from some of you working in your communities telling me that you are (again!) being barred from “stakeholder” meetings. For new readers “stakeholder” meetings … Continue reading Here we go again, local resettlement agencies operating in secrecy