Idaho: Editorial confirms refugee contractors "bidding for bodies"

That phrase is a favorite one of a longtime critic of the refugee resettlement process as it is now administered in the US—bidding for bodies.  Catchy isn’t it!

refugeeCenter2_L
CSI Refugee Programs is a subcontractor of the Arlington, VA-based US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) which is 99% funded by taxpayer dollars. It is headed by Lavinia Limon who was Bill Clinton’s director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Photo: http://refugeecenter.csi.edu/

Yesterday we were alerted to yet another editorial*** at MagicValley.com which has heretofore demonstrated a bias in favor of more refugees for Twin Falls.   The editorial basically asks, what is the big deal with the R & P Abstract?
Before I get to the editorial, here is a little background.  Each year the resettlement contractor working in your town or city prepares a report (a proposal of sorts) called an Abstract that is used to get its federal funding.  It says how many refugees your town (in their opinion) can accommodate and from what regions of the world they might come.   It also contains a text portion that explains why your town would be ideal—describing what “services” you have available.
We contend that citizens are entitled to this document in advance of it being sent to Washington for funding and that you should have some say about the “capacity” of your town to ‘welcome’ more third worlders.   However, it has been extremely difficult to even get copies of those from this year (FY2015) which ends in just about 7 weeks.  Indeed the citizens of Twin Falls were only able to get the 2014 document through a public information request.  The paper also needed to obtain one through the same means (they confirm in the editorial).  You can be sure the subcontractor, CSI Refugee Center, wasn’t handing them out without legal pressure!

Contractors:  Do not give out the Abstracts!

Thanks to inside sources we learned recently that the subcontractors working in these cities had been instructed (by their primary contractor) to NOT give any Abstracts out to citizens who called looking for them.
So, if the Abstracts are so ho-hum and uninformative as this editorial implies, why the secrecy?
Unfortunately, you may not be able to use a public information request (as did the citizens of Twin Falls) to get yours because some of the subcontractors are non-profits completely on their own (other than receiving $$$ from Washington).  I’m guessing this one in Twin Falls was obtainable because CSI (the subcontractor) is intimately/financially entwined with the College of Southern Idaho—a state college.

Long story to get to my main point today!

Look at this paragraph in MagicValley’s editorial:

The group filed a public records request seeking the CSI abstract being prepared for next year – and was denied. Not because CSI is trying to cover something up, but because the document is still being processed, and disclosing it now would amount to sharing trade secrets, since each refugee center around the country competes for resources through the federal resettling program.

Trade secrets!    Can you have trade secrets from the taxpayer?

What the heck!  This isn’t a private business that needs to understandably protect itself in a contract bidding process.  This is a non-profit group competing with another non-profit group for YOUR money—the “resources” of the federal treasury!
These contractors and subcontractors are paid by the head (by you!) to resettle refugees—they are indeed bidding for bodies and here we get confirmation that you can’t know what they plan for your town while you pay for the whole thing!

We, in Twin Falls, have amenities to offer including a TB Clinic!

And, although the great minds at MagicValley.com want to downplay (sneer at) your interest in the Abstract, I found it pretty informative and I don’t even live there.  For example, read the text and see what Twin Falls is offering in the bidding war with other subcontractors/contractors around the US.
Here, for instance, I learned this:  CSI promotes the fact that Twin Falls has a cracker-jack medical system including a Tuberculosis Clinic!  Wow! So that means Twin Falls can take a bunch of the refugees entering the US with TB (yes, they are permitted entry!) while some other town can’t.

Twin Falls is home to an adult tertiary care hospital, a tuberculosis clinic, a renal dialysis clinic, and a dental clinic. Clients can also access transplant and rehabilitation services.

Guess who pays for all of that medical care for refugees?
Every bit of this is about money (humanitarian mumbo-jumbo is the cover).  Now the trick will be to figure out who in Idaho benefits the most!
For more on Twin Falls, click here, and to make contact with those who have formed a ‘Pocket of Resistance (POR)’ in Twin Falls, go here.
*** In a previous editorial they called me a “thief!”
Endnote:  I have another post in the works on Idaho for today besides this one and my previous one about the conviction of Idaho’s refugee terrorist, so come back later!

Idaho legislator calls for more transparency by resettlement agency in Twin Falls

I have to laugh!  The headline in the newspaper (MagicValley.com), that has so far not wanted to present all the facts about the UN/US State Department Refugee Resettlement plan for Twin Falls, titles the op-ed from Rep. Stephen Hartgen (R-Twin Falls) ‘Hartgen: Defunding Refugee Program Isn’t the Answer.

hartgen
Rep. Stephen Hartgen. http://www.stephenhartgen.com/

It could more accurately have been entitled:  ‘Hartgen: concerned for security with refugee program, demands transparency of resettlement contractor.’
Hartgen is on the right track! Continue to demand transparency!  In my experience the federal government and its contractors do not want you to know all the facts!

If Rep. Hartgen wants transparency, begin by asking for the FY 2016 Abstract!

At this very moment CSI Refugee Center is finishing up (or has finished) its R & P Abstract for FY2016.  It is a document that should be made available to you, to everyone in Twin Falls, BEFORE it goes to Washington as part of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants’ (USCRI’s) federal funding wish list.
The Abstract will tell you how many refugees and from which parts of the world USCRI/CSI is looking to get them from in FY’16 which begins October 1, 2015, and it will tell what amenities the community in Twin Falls is offering the refugees (you might be surprised by what goodies you are providing refugees).
USCRI is the parent organization of the CSI Refugee Center.  It is USCRI that sits down with the US State Department and decides which refugees are sent to Twin Falls.  Jannus Inc. is included in the discussion.
Idaho is a Wilson-Fish state and as such the decisions that are made exclude Idaho elected officials such as Rep. Hartgen from the decision-making process.  Jannus, Inc., another non-profit group, acts for the state of Idaho.
And, one more thing.  Rep. Hartgen needs to acquire the CSI Refugee Center’s federal tax form—Form 990—which they must be hiding somewhere!

Here is a small snip of what Rep. Hartgen said (I dare not post more or the editor will sic its lawyers on me, as they did here):

Rather, I believe the CSI Board, which consists of locally-elected officials, and the college administration should go further in explaining to the community the center’s operation and in releasing documents on its various aspects and financial affairs. This would go a long way to alleviate concerns about the center and the plan to bring refugees from the Middle East to settle in southern Idaho.

[….]

….The proposed introduction of refugees from Syria has raised many concerns, and not only from Mr. Martin and his group. For one, the world today seems to be a more volatile place of war, insurrections, ideological movements and violence. The Middle East seethes with such incidents and it is not unreasonable for Americans to be concerned for our own country’s security.

Second, many people feel the U.S. government does not seem particularly competent in many tasks involving homeland security. The vetting of refugees does not seem to many to be thorough enough, and the government’s response seems to be little more than “we’re doing the best we can.” Public statements from extremist Islamic group like ISIS about how they intend to use settlement programs to infiltrate America only heighten such concerns. Attacks on American soil lead to further wariness.

Thirdly, a general suspicion of the current Obama administration’s competence and motives is now pervasive among millions of Americans, who simply no longer believe the administration has America’s best interests at heart.

Continue reading here.  (MagicValley.com wants you to see its ads).
Again, Rep. Hartgen is on the right track and should be encouraged!  In fact, he should be encouraged to introduce legislation to get rid of the Wilson-Fish program for Idaho that leaves state elected officials out of the decision-making process.
Incidentally, I don’t know of another resettlement agency that is intimately entwined with a college as this one is, do any of you know of another one? What is in it for the college?  Are they making money off of the refugee program?
This latest round of controversy in Twin Falls began here (back in April) when CSI got all excited by the prospect of Syrian (mostly Muslim) refugees coming to town.
We have written many posts on Idaho, go here for more.
Twin Falls has developed as a Pocket of Resistance’ and concerned citizens there have begun going door to door to educate their fellow citizens about the CSI Refugee Center.  They (Committee to End the CSI Refugee Center) also have a very new website!

Is there a plan to resettle Somali refugees in St. Maries, Idaho? How does one find out?

St. Maries Idaho
St. Maries Chamber of Commerce: “…our quant little town.” http://stmariesidaho.org/things-to-do/

Yesterday a reader sent this:

Last night I was told that Somali Refugees are going to be placed in St. Maries, Idaho sometime in September, the person who told me swore it was from a very reliable federal government connected source. I haven’t yet confirm this but would like to get the word out that refugees are NOW coming to North Idaho.

I don’t know if it’s true or not, but decided to use the information to make several key points.
One of the first questions people ask me in interviews or when speaking somewhere is this question:  How do I find out if my town is targeted for resettlement?
The answer is you won’t find out until someone leaks the information.  The program is wrapped in secrecy by the federal government and its contractors (aka Volags).
Those leaking the information may be employees of the local health department or the local school board which as “stakeholders” may get a little heads-up (we are talking weeks or a couple of months, certainly not a year).
Elected officials who may be seen as “welcoming” might also have a little warning.   And, sometimes the leakers are affiliated with some of the left-leaning churches in town where church leaders are too excited by what they see as their good fortune to stay quiet.
By law the contractors and their handlers at the state level (Jannus Inc. in Idaho) are required to “consult” with the community, but that really only means they consult with those they see as friendlies.

If you are wondering about your town, start asking around!

Also, one indicator about whether your town could be targeted is if some large industry is nearby, or planning to move to the area. Look especially for meat packing plants.  And, in Twin Falls, Idaho the Chobani yogurt plant most likely was looking for refugee laborers.  The ‘non-profit’ contractors work closely with local industries to supply big businesses with cheap immigrant workers.
You might want to ask people involved with the local Chamber of Commerce if they know of any plans!  The Chamber at the national level is outright in support of Open Borders and amnesty.

Why might there be some truth to this rumor? Why might a town like St. Maries be a target?

The proximity of a town to an already existing resettlement site is one good indicator.  The State Dept. informed me once that a 100-mile radius to an existing resettlement office would make the site fair game.  St. Maries is not near the main resettlement hubs in Idaho—Boise and Twin Falls which have received the bulk of the 6,000 plus refugees that Idaho has received since the beginning of Obama’s term in office.***
However, St. Maries is about 50 miles from the World Relief office in Spokane, Washington!  Contractors are getting desperate to find new and fresh territory as some existing sites are experiencing ‘resistance.’   Twin Falls is an important ‘Pocket of Resistance’ now so it would be no surprise for Idaho to “welcome” refugees further north.
If World Relief in Spokane is involved in placing refugees in Idaho soon, then they know right now that it could happen because they are in the process of preparing their R & P Abstract for the feds as the new fiscal year is fast approaching on October 1.  It should be legally required that those Abstracts be available to the public in advance of new resettlements!
Go here to the list of existing resettlement contractors and see if one is located near you.

I would like to appeal to all of you to send me any rumors you might hear about refugees being resettled in a town near you.

I’ll post the information, even if we have no firm information to go on.  We have a category I haven’t used much here, called ‘Rumors’ and what you hear will be cataloged there.  We would rather run down the rumors than to completely miss getting the news out about a prospective  new resettlement site.  Once a site is up and running they are hard to stop especially as the contractor will begin bringing in the relatives and if you object you will be chastised for wanting to interfere with family reunification.
This post is also archived in our new ‘Pockets of Resistance’ category for all of you wishing to learn more about what is happening around the country.
*** Idaho has received 6,158 refugees since January 2009 when Obama took office (data here).  The majority of those went to Boise and Twin Falls.  Although they received many more smaller numbers of certain ethnic groups the largest numbers came from Bhutan (1,159), Burma (1,223), Iraq (1,101), DR Congo (753), Somalia (625), Afghanistan (203), Sudan (194), Iran (157), and Uzbekistan (77).  Idaho has also gotten several of the first group of Syrians (23).
One of those Uzbeks is on trial on terrorism charges, here.  By the way, look at this, were they expecting trouble surrounding the trial?

Idaho: Iranian-American Pastor says stop Muslim immigration to America

Shahram Hadian, a former Muslim, told an audience in Twin Falls, Idaho on Monday night that more Muslim immigration to America is a threat to our national security.
From MagicValley.com:

FILER • A pastor from Washington state who is best known for preaching against Islam, said Monday night that immigration from Muslim countries should “immediately be limited and heavily scrutinized,” and that refugee resettlement should be ended.

“This is a direct national-security threat,” Shahram Hadian told the crowd at the Canyon View Baptist Church. “You don’t think that ISIS is going to embed? It’s already happened with the Somalis.”

The refugee program that the College of Southern Idaho has run since 1984 became a lightning rod of controversy in the area in April, after news broke that Syrians*** would be among the 300 refugees expected to be resettled in Twin Falls this October.

Please go read the remainder of the article.  We can’t show more or this paper will send me another threatening letter and editorialize that I am a thief!
***The UN, 14 US Senators and the federal resettlement contractors want 65,000 Syrians resettled in the US by the time Obama leaves office!
For all of our coverage of the Twin Falls, Idaho ‘pocket of resistance,’ go here.  And, see our new category for information on the growing number of ‘Pockets of Resistance’ here.
See Pastor Shahram Hadian on Blaze TV below in May (hat tip: Diane).

 
 

Guest column: Is refugee resettlement modern-day slavery?

Editor:  From time to time we publish opinion pieces from our readers as well as other comments worth highlighting.  This is from an Idaho patriot with a point of view we have heard expressed before.  Not pulling any punches here, the author is sure to infuriate some of you.

By the way, we have often asked our critics to pen an opinion piece for us about why they think the federal resettlement program is a good thing for America and they never take us up on it.  Maybe some of those critics, who lurk here daily, will be inspired to respond after reading this! 
(Emphasis below is mine)
From Idaho Patriot:

The refugee program is not unlike ancient AMERICAN slave trade.

Caboceers from the UN tap or trap their kinsman, the majority of which are uneducated and unskilled laborers, many of which DO NOT read. “Marketed” to foreign countries as laborers, separated from friends, family, and language they are relocated by the will and decision of overseers. Immediately the “cost of their transportation” puts them in debt to the government. Statistics say that the majority do not/cannot repay that initial debt.

UNHCR Gutteres
Is UNHCR Antonio Guterres the chief caboceer for global corporations?

Caboceers and wealthy contractors work together, not unlike the slave markets.

Money from the “New World” exchanges hands, and lives are shipped off to help feed the greed of massive industries. Refugees are told they have arrived in a “better” place, the proof of which is running water and flushing toilets. (Oh how lucky we would be to be relocated away from our problems to arrive in the land of bidets).

These people are segregated into poverty communities (Jim Crow would be proud of). Without employable skills, language, or ability to read they have no other option but to accept the housing supplied by their new handlers. Federal and State monies provide plantation type housing, similar to the cluster of shacks that indentured slaves were provided. Families who were destitute remain destitute but now they add debt, isolation, and language and cultural barriers to their troubles. Twice poor: economically, now cut off from their kinsmen.

Their own nationals often serve as handlers who are paid to organize and work their countrymen through the programs provided by state and federal tax dollars. The New World of promise turns out to be more similar to indentured slavery. Equipped with new skills they are now “qualified” for the jobs that “American’s won’t do”.

The reason Americans won’t do those jobs is NEVER QUESTIONED.

Perhaps it is because the work is grueling and the pay so meager that gas money is hardly covered. Perhaps it’s because nobody monitors the abuses against workers at these jobs, perhaps it’s because the hours are so strenuous that Americans would call and report it. Perhaps it’s because Americans aren’t “afraid” to lose jobs, or afraid of the government, or afraid to speak up about being mistreated. God forbid we ACTUALLY EXAMINE THE EMPLOYERS to see WHY Americans won’t work at these jobs. Billions are earned by these Masters but the indentured refugees are kept down and controlled as they fill the pockets of the fat cats on top. Refugees DON’T KNOW how to escape these situations; Americans do and perhaps that’s why we aren’t “doing these jobs”.

OUR happy community gets to feel wonderful about herself as she hands out poverty portions of used furniture, cheap food, and old clothing. Toss out all your unwanted items and feel good about your generosity, this is the other face of greed and can’t be anymore repulsive.

Get the warm and fuzzies by helping out at the refugee center if you wish but I dare you to walk the streets weekly and see how things really are. Many of you say you wish to “convert” these souls, but you aren’t going out to do so. Many of you say you “love multi-culturalism” but you live as far away from their dirty rundown dumps as possible.

What you really want is to feel good about yourself when you feel like doing a good deed. You want to pat yourself on the back when you give your 2nd hand charity. You want to promote yourself in the community by looking like you offer love and the hand of fellowship to people you don’t have anything to do with. Many of you love to have money from Federal and State programs that supply you with security and wealth from these tax funded programs for refugee schooling, medical care, adult education, housing, therapy, and other tax funded provisional programs. You care about YOU. If you were not receiving money you would not be receiving refugees.

Twin Falls has met her capacity to absorb refugees. At this point we are mistreating the ones who are already here by not seeing to their needs.

We are also dealing with questionable leadership who, DESPITE THE OUTCRY FROM THEIR COMMUNITY, don’t want to limit or cut off the federal money received for their part in this refugee trade. These programs are now BUILDING INDIGENT populations that are drowning Twin Falls in higher crime, garbage, and displaced souls.

This program needs to end.

Editor:  My interest in the refugee program back in 2007 was initially begun because it came to citizens’ attention that refugees were being resettled in my county into the worst slum sections of our major city and reports were that they were not given necessities such as bedding and winter coats.  Look around where you live and see if meek refugees are being neglected.
Suggestion for reform…..
This reminds me that we have a suggestion for something that could be done very easily by Congress and that is to create a repatriation fund to help unhappy refugees (and other legal immigrants) rejoin their own people and cultures where they came from or in a another country that is within their own cultural zone.  Even the introduction of such a bill in Congress would ‘smoke out’ very quickly those who really care about the refugees as people, from those who are using them for cheap labor or for their own personal selfish reasons.
See our category entitled, Comments worth noting/guest posts, for more reader opinions.
For our complete archive on the controversy in Twin Falls, Idaho, go here.