HIAS Sues Trump Again, Contractor Does Not Want Local Citizens to have a Say in Placement Decisions

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 5 Comments

It is as simple as this:  HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) wants to continue to call the shots from Washington, DC about where refugees will be placed in America.

HIAS has been protesting Trump from the moment he was elected. Here CEO Mark Hetfield led a February 2017 anti-Trump rally that featured then Rep. Keith Ellison.  https://refugeeresettlementwatch.org/2017/02/14/breitbart-federally-funded-refugee-resettlement-contractor-hias-organized-ny-rally-against-trump/

You, who live in cities large and small are expected to shut up and let the professionals and experts determine which third world refugees will be resettled in which communities.

Never mind that as we pointed out here, the President’s Executive Order really doesn’t do much and never mind that there are yet no published guidelines from the federal government about how the Executive Order would be carried out, HIAS is nevertheless getting a jump on it by beating their anti-Trump drums and filing a lawsuit.

Clearly they have no interest in listening to what citizens have to say about their community being forever changed by federal contractors working for the US State Department. 

I suspect this new lawsuit is all about raising more money from an outraged constituency and I’ll tell you why I think that after you see what HIAS said yesterday.

Here is Mark Hetfield, HIAS CEO in an e-mail announcing the lawsuit:

Dear Friend,

In September, President Trump issued an executive order (EO) purporting to give state and local governments the authority to block refugee resettlement in their jurisdictions. This state-by-state, city-by-city refugee ban not only violates federal law, but also keeps refugees apart from their families, and prevents willing and able American communities like yours from welcoming people in need of safety. [Cry me a river!—ed]

This morning, HIAS, joined by two other refugee agencies, filed suit to stop this latest attempt to shut down refugee resettlement.

Now here is just some of their press announcement:

Today HIAS, together with two other refugee resettlement agencies, took President Trump to court over his recent executive order giving state and local officials authority to block refugee resettlement in their jurisdictions.

HIAS, Church World Service (CWS), and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) are suing the administration because it is attempting to enact a state-by-state, city-by-city refugee ban.

[….]

The president’s order, signed on September 26, would require resettlement agencies, including HIAS, CWS, and LIRS, to obtain written consent from all localities and states in which they plan to resettle refugees. If written consent cannot be obtained, it could prevent resettlement agencies from maintaining local affiliate offices that provide essential services to refugees already in the area.

According to the complaint, filed this morning in U.S. District Court in Maryland, the executive order violates federal law, which  requires federal agencies to make decisions about where refugees are to be placed within the United States according to a detailed list of factors, leaving no room for state and local governments to veto such decisions.

What factors? What are the detailed list of factors on which the feds (with their contractors) base their placement decisions? Shouldn’t we be given that information? We are the ones paying for it in more ways than one!

HIAS continues…

HIAS sued the Trump administration in 2017, when the president’s executive order called for halting refugee resettlement and banning people from seven majority Muslim countries with an exception for non-Muslim religious minorities.

HIAS, CWS, and LIRS, are represented by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP).

[….]

Melissa Keaney, Senior Litigation Staff Attorney for IRAP called the order “a back-door attempt to decimate the refugee resettlement program.” and noted that a single local politician should not be able to stop Americans who have been waiting years to reunite with family members.  [Their willingness to flat out lie is disgusting!  A single local politician could not stop resettlement!—ed]

“Trump’s War on Refugees” as they call it, has been very lucrative for HIAS!

I suspected that HIAS, and maybe some of the other contractors, was financially hurting as the Trump Administration has severely cut back on the number of paying clients (aka refugees) that the contractors are paid to ‘care for’ for a brief time, but I was wrong.

HIAS is better off financially today than it was at the pinnacle of the Obama Administration when refugees were pouring in by the tens of thousands.

We are getting into the weeds here, but hang in there.

I went back to the last four years of HIAS’s IRS Form 990s and guess what I confirmed?  HIAS is richer today than when Obama’s refugee spigot was wide open.

Their federal dollars have fallen only slightly while their private fundraising has mushroomed with the addition of over $10 million to their income between 2015 and 2018.

They are making money hand over fist because Donald Trump is in the White House!

In addition they are paying out more in salaries and giving less to other organizations.

Let me be clear.  If HIAS was a truly charitable organization that was not partially funded by taxpayers, I wouldn’t care about where their money came from, where they spent it, or how large their salaries are, but we, the taxpayers of America, are involuntarily paying for their overtly political activities and thus have a right to know how our money is being spent.

Here is a summary of some key data points on their IRS forms (I’m rounding numbers to make it easier to follow the money!):

2015  (Obama year)

$20.4 million from government grants

$15.2 million from other sources of income

Total income: $40.6 million (other smaller sources of income included)(Conservatively 50% federally funded because some of their other smaller amounts of income are from taxpayers too.)

$8.5 million passed through to other organizations

$12.2 million paid in salaries (salaries do not include other payroll expenses)

$375,000 CEO (Hetfield) compensation (includes other related compensation)

2016 (Obama’s top refugee ‘welcoming’ year)

$24.5 million from government grants

$17.4 million from other sources of income

Total income: $45.3 million (54% federally funded)

$12.2 million passed through to other organizations

$13.9 million paid in salaries

$344,000 CEO total compensation

2017 (Trump takes over)

$20.7 million from government grants

$19.9 million from other sources of income

Total income: $48.4 million (43% federally funded)

$8.9 million passed through to other organizations

$15.9 million paid in salaries

$322,000 CEO total compensation (took a little pay cut)

2018 (Trump)

$19.1 million from government grants (just about what they were raking in during Obama’s 2015!)

$27.4 million from other sources of income

Total income: $50 million (38% federally funded)

$6.6 million passed through to other organizations

$14.9 million paid in salaries

$330,000 CEO total compensation

Bottomline:  HIAS is wealthier today ($10 million wealthier) than they were four years ago and I suspect they are fully aware of how the President, and their campaign against him, has enormously helped their fundraising operations.

The lawsuit will likely bring in gobs more money for them!

And, just so you know, I’ll be looking at the Form 990s of the other ‘religious charity’ partners in this lawsuit.

Denmark Paying Syrian Refugees to Go Home (But They Can Come Back!)

~ Ann Corcoran ~ 1 Comment

Invasion of Europe news….

It strikes me that there is a major fly in the expensive ointment!  They can return to Denmark if they find they can’t hack it back home.

I sure hope there is a provision that says they must repay the taxpayers of Denmark the money they received to leave should they choose to go back to Denmark.

Syrians protest Denmark’s government earlier this year. Well-trained protesters: Moms, children and English language signs.   https://syriadirect.org/news/%E2%80%98my-life-is-here%E2%80%99-syrian-refugees-in-denmark-at-risk-of-asylum-denials-future-returns-under-new-danish-policy/

 

From The Local:

Denmark pays 71 Syrians to leave country

71 Syrians have been paid since May 1st this year by the Danish state to leave the country and return home, figures from the Danish Refugee Council show.

Each left the country with at least 140,000 kroner paid to them by the Danish state through an incentive scheme introduced under the previous government.

That is about $15,000 US dollars!

None had left the country under the scheme prior to May 1st.

New rules took effect this year, meaning that Syrian refugees who live in Denmark do not immediately lose their right to residence if they return home.

They now have up to a year in which they can change their minds about the decision. The addition of this clause has encouraged people to take up the option, according to the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).

[….]

“Many people simply feel that it is too difficult to enter the jobs market and get established in Denmark,” the council’s head of asylum Eva Singer told Kristeligt Dagblad.

“The money makes a difference to their considerations but also means thay can change their minds if Syria turns out to be too dangerous,” Singer added.

Syrians are not the only nationality encompassed by the incentive programme.

During the first ten months of this year, 438 refugees and migrants left Denmark with such a payment from the state.

The Ministry of Immigration and Integration told Kristeligt Dagblad that it expects to spend 102 million kroner this year paying refugees to return home.

More here.

I once suggested we consider such a payment plan for certain migrants to America, but many of my readers screamed bloody murder and suggested we simply deport them!

Of course the obvious flaw in Denmark’s plan is the escape clause which allows them to return to Denmark within the year if they don’t like it at home.

I have an extensive ‘Invasion of Europe’ archive going back at least ten years, but alas have not added to it lately, not because there isn’t enough news (the invasion continues), but for lack of time.

Who is Representing Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement at Mosque Meeting?

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Just when I thought I knew all the ways in which the federal refugee resettlement contractors were milking taxpayers, along comes ‘Switchboard.’

If the millions of dollars we dole out to nine refugee contractors isn’t enough, we, US taxpayers, are funding what is for all intents and purposes a federally funded Leftwing community organizing operation!  

Continue reading!

This story’s headline at WickedLocal (wth?) caught my eye.

Chelmsford mosque hosts forum on immigration, refugee issues Billerica leader speaks

Gee, what kind of forum was a Massachusetts mosque holding I wondered.

Here are a few snips from the beginning of the news account:

A forum held Nov. 14 at the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell mosque explored issues of immigration and refugees — including changes, challenges, and uncertainties.

The forum was sponsored by BRIDGES — the acronym for Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity.

BRIDGES represents a collaborative effort of state, federal and local government agencies.

Participants included religious leaders, law enforcement officials, a representative from U.S. Rep. Laurie Trahan of the 3rd Congressional District.

[….]

BRIDGES formed after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, explained Fatema Esmail, of the Anjuman-e-Ezzi Masjid in Billerica — a mosque that serves the area’s Dawood Bohra, a movement within Shi’a Islam.

Esmail said the organization began with a mission — “to start a better dialogue for understanding, between community leaders and government officials.”

Activities have included cultural sensitivity trainings for personnel at Logan Airport, and with police departments across the state, and across New England.

We will have to have a look at BRIDGES in the future, but here is what I was most interested in…

The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement sent a representative?

The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) (this is Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services) is sending spokesmen out to forums like this and suggesting that everything should be fine and dandy (for more refugee arrivals) in New England as governors there would want more refugees.

But, Jason Crislip, “representing the ORR”, doesn’t work for ORR.

He works for David Miliband at the International Rescue Committee that has apparently recently created another avenue, called Switchboard, to siphon off more of your tax dollars!

These Leftist Open Borders groups are masters of deception as they create new groups, which is all fine and dandy as long as we aren’t paying for it!

Sadly, we are paying for Switchboard!

Here is WickedLocal on Crislip:

Jason Crislip, of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, said the Trump administration has proposed reduction of refugee resettlements in the current fiscal year from 30,000 to 18,000. [Crislip is not on the staff of the Office of Refugee Resettlement!—ed]

ORR surrogate Jason Crislip

In addition, Crislip said a presidential executive order, issued Sept. 26, aims to provide state and local consent for the resettlement of refugees.

Not to worry assures Crislip, your New England governors will be on board with MORE refugees.

Governors of New England states have generally indicated support for local consent, said Crislip, who said, “This is a good thing for the refugee program in New England.”

The resettlement program will continue as normally until June 1, which [sic] expected changes take effect, Crislip said. Crislip said the Department of State has begun releasing some information to illuminate the changes.

June 1? What happens then? The Deep staters have their pipelines well established, and those of us whose communities will be changed by what they decide in Washington, DC will be the last to know!

I’m going to be paying close attention to Switchboard which is fully funded by you—the taxpayers through a $ 1.2 million grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Dear Stephen Miller, if you read RRW, check out this latest federal boodle going to community organizers working against the President!

From Switchboard’s website:

The IRC received $1,194,063 through competitive funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant # 90RB0052. The project will be financed with 100% of Federal funds and 0% by non-governmental sources. The contents of this website are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Just think about that!

WE supply the funding and Open Borders agitators do what they want (in our name!).

Here is a recent story from their blog (a blog that you pay for!).

The Leftwing propaganda machine runs on stories, stories to tug on your emotions.  We need to be doing more of that with stories of our own like those I report at ‘Frauds, Crooks and Criminals!’ for free!

https://switchboardta.org/blog/sharing-refugee-stories-to-build-community-support/

 

North Dakota Governor Straddles the Line: More Refugees Only if my Cities Want Them

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been trying to keep track of which governors are responding to pressure from resettlement contractors and telling the President that they want more refugees.

So far governors in Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington have sent letters to the White House begging the President for MORE refugees.

Never mind that there isn’t yet a formal structure in place to carryout Trump’s Executive Order that would supposedly give an opportunity for some local/state say-so when the federal government sends new refugees out to 49 states that have refugee programs in place.

Republican Governor Doug Burgum: We will take refugees if my cities run by the Democrats want refugees.

(Wyoming is the only state in the nation that receives zero refugees year after year.)

North Dakota’s Republican governor has weighed in, sort of, as he “embraces the order” and is leaving it to his local communities to say if they want more or not.

Of course if cities are run by Democrat mayors (this is why you all need to get engaged and run for local offices!), the mayor will beg for refugees he claims they need as low wage worker bees.

From AP:

North Dakota Gov. Burgum embraces Trump refugee order

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Gov. Doug Burgum announced Tuesday he’s embracing an executive order from President Donald Trump that gives states and cities the authority to refuse to accept refugees.

Burgum said in a statement that North Dakota will continue to receive refugees — as long as local jurisdictions agree to it.

“The governor believes it should be a local decision,” Burgum spokesman Mike Nowatzki said.

Advocates for refugees said they didn’t believe any of the state’s largest cities, where refugees typically settle, would turn them away.

“I can only speculate but we’re hopeful,” said Shirley Dykshoorn, a Lutheran Social Services vice president. “We have unprecedented workforce needs. We have employers who desperately need employees and they are happy to have refugees.”

More here.

North Dakota is Trump-country and it’s a good idea if your Governor hears from those of you who want to see immigration slowed.

You know he is hearing from Lutheran Social Services!

Sesame Street Goes All-in With Muslim Muppets

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

 

I told you about this collaboration when it was happening, US refugee resettlement contractor, the International Rescue Committee competed for a $100 MILLLION  prize and won by joining with Sesame Street to produce a Middle Eastern version of the show being produced in Jordan.  Characters will of course be speaking Arabic.

Too funny that we have the IRC’s CEO David Miliband crying the blues to CBS’s Leslie Stahl that there isn’t enough money to solve the refugee crisis in the Middle East.

Bringing home the boodle?

I wondered if somehow Miliband’s huge salary jump from $600,000 in 2017 to over $900,000 now was somehow related to winning this multi-million dollar prize?  Just wondering?

Here is a bit of the story from CBS 60 Minutes:

Sesame and the IRC join forces to help Syrian refugee children

It’s [Sesame Street] been using television to educate kids in the U.S., including tackling tough subjects like racism and death, for five decades. And it’s done local versions in other countries. In 2016, Sesame Workshop and the IRC had been strategizing about how they could collaborate to help refugee children when a new competition was announced. The prize: a stunning 100 million dollars.

British press called Miliband a member in good standing of the “begging bowl barons!” https://refugeeresettlementwatch.org/2019/10/02/the-british-press-notices-million-dollar-miliband/

David Miliband: The MacArthur Foundation offered $100 million to any organization who was ready to, quote-unquote “solve a big global problem.”

Lesley Stahl: A global problem that was intractable.

David Miliband: We defined the global problem we wanted to tackle was trauma, toxic stress among refugee children in the Middle East.

In the final pitch to the competition’s judges, Miliband and his Sesame Workshop counterpart Sherrie Westin presented a two-pronged plan: Sesame Workshop would create a new show for the Middle East and the IRC would dramatically expand its services to young refugee kids directly, including where they’re living.

Lesley Stahl: And they gave you $100 million.

David Miliband: Yeah, $100 million is not as much as it sounds. Because it’s–

Lesley Stahl: It isn’t?

David Miliband: It’s over–

Lesley Stahl: It sounds huge.

David Miliband: It’s over (LAUGH) five years. And we’re delivering in-person services to over a million kids and educational content via TV to nearly 8 million kids. So it’s a big enterprise.

More here.

The IRC receives nearly a half a billion a year from you, the US taxpayer.

So, I guess the good news is that the money is coming from a filthy rich private foundation and the plan is for it to take care of the refugees where they are—in their own cultural zone.