Editors note:I’ve been away so hopefully will be able to catch up with the news in a bunch of short posts this morning.
“Somali pirate” greeted by Rep. Keith Ellison in forum to protect money transfer system to Africa. http://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2014/05/actor-barkhad-abdi-joins-ellison-protect-money-transfer-system-somali-c
The banks (and the feds) fear, of course, that the money being sent from Mom & Pop money transfer companies will end up in the hands of terrorists.
Rules designed to keep money out of the hands of terrorists could soon cut off support to millions of ordinary East Africans too. Last week, another financial institution — Merchants Bank of California — started closing accounts belonging to companies that collect money from African immigrants in the United States and send it to Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and other African countries.
The money-transmitter companies function like smaller versions of Western Union and MoneyGram, but they can send money to far-flung African villages that the big guys don’t serve. They rely on banks to make the international wire transfers necessary to get the money there. It’s part of a worldwide system of informal financial transactions between residents of impoverished countries and the friends and relatives living abroad who regularly send them money. The World Bank estimates that immigrants will send home $436 billion this year.
Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison is one of the chief advocates for keeping the money flowing to Somalia. And, the more refugees we resettle, the more money that flows out in remittances to the third world.
Photo by John Cross: Mustafa Jamale, an aide to U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, speaks Monday at Minnesota State University during a panel talk on political activism in East African communities.
That is the subject of a panel discussion held this week at Minnesota State University.
MANKATO — For a time, Somalis in Minnesota had something of a suitcase mentality as many wondered if their time here was temporary, said Hashi Shafi of Minneapolis.
For that reason, and because it was something of a foreign concept, many people didn’t participate in American democracy.
“To unpack our suitcases takes time,” said Shafi, director of a civic education nonprofit in Minneapolis.
But unpack they have, as evidenced by the Somalis who are organizing their communities politically.
Shafi and two other East Africa natives visited Minnesota State University Monday for a panel discussion on political activism among Somali and Ethiopian immigrants.
It is very difficult to find population numbers for Somalis in the US now, so this next bit of information is useful:
There are an estimated 100,000 Somalis and 30,000 Ethiopians in Minnesota.
New readers might wish to visit this older post—Why so many Somalis in Minneapolis?—still one of our most-read posts at RRW. Guess who resettled the Somalis in Minnesota? If you guessed any one of these, you are right: US Conference of Catholic Bishops/Catholic Charities, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, and World Relief (evangelicals)!
Were some of Rep. Keith Ellison’s constituents doing the killing in Kenya on Saturday?
Rep. Keith Ellison swearing in on the Koran as the first Muslim Member of the House of Representatives in 2007. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
This article in the Minneapolis Star Tribunewent unnoticed over the weekend (at least by me!) when the issue of Somalis and Minnesota took center stage in faraway Kenya as Somali terrorists slaughtered dozens of innocent shoppers (see our report here).
We’ve written about Somali deportations previously and noted that the US Supreme Court has already ruled that it is legal to send immigrants back to countries in chaos if they break American laws. But, the ‘human rights gang’ is always agitating against the idea as is the case now in this report.
From the Star Tribune(Minnesota Somalis make up most of the list of those to be sent back):
The federal government is engaging in an aggressive effort to deport Somali immigrants who run afoul of U.S. law, after refraining for years from shipping people back to a country wracked by civil war and lacking a functioning government.
The policy change affects more than 3,100 Somali nationals who have received final orders for removal from the United States since 2001, either because of violations of immigration law or criminal convictions. That includes 435 people who were ordered removed from the immigration court in Bloomington, representing 13 percent of all such Somali cases in the country’s 52 immigration courts.
Until recently, they had been allowed to remain in this country despite the removal orders, living in a legal limbo, wearing ankle bracelets or under requirements to check in periodically with authorities.
Now that’s changed.
Since 2012, 33 Somalis across the United States have been deported to Somalia, including 22 so far this year. Most have come from Minnesota, home to the nation’s largest Somali refugee community.Thirty Somalis remain in custody this month from the St. Paul region of the immigration service, faced with a pending or final deportation order.
Next the Tribunegives us a sob story about how these kids grew up here and don’t know Somalia, some don’t know the language. How about a sob story for the US and Minnesota taxpayers who raised these “kids”—housed, fed and educated them!
This is so backwards! The poor Somali “kids” could become “victims” in Somalia. What about their victims here?
The increased deportations have raised the thorny issue of whether it is proper to send offenders, many with admittedly lengthy criminal rap sheets, to an unstable country they don’t know and where many believe their presence will be tantamount to a death sentence.
What do you do with people who have no legal right to stay here, but nowhere safe to go?
“We still consider Somalia to be extremely unsafe,” said Deepinder Mayell, director of the Refugee and Immigrant Program for the Minneapolis-based Advocates for Human Rights. “Even affiliation with western countries could be a threat. It makes them stick out. …. They could become subject to increased scrutiny or targeted as a victim.”
Rep. Keith Ellison is worried that al-Shabaab will get these poor kids.
I think this morning Ellison has to be sweating until we find out if some of his constituents are actually among the al-Shabaab Islamic terrorists who did the slaughtering in the Kenya mall!
The Tribune story continues:
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, whose district includes a large segment of Minnesota’s Somali community, said he will be requesting a detailed briefing from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice on their guidelines for deportations to areas with potential safety concerns. Despite some gains in Somalia, he said he remains concerned about things such as recent asymmetrical attacks by the terrorist organization Al-Shabab.
“Asymmetrical attacks by the terrorist organization Al-Shabab!” Is that what happened in Kenya?
There is a lot in this article but I don’t have the time this morning, so please read the whole thing here. Lawyers are wondering why the feds have renewed their interest in deporting the Somali criminals. I would like to know that too!
Readers: I’m away from the computer this morning, so if anything interesting happens send me a note at our new address:
It is Sunday morning, is your church taking taxpayer money?
S.744, the so-called “comprehensive immigration reform” bill (Gang of Eight plus Grover bill) that was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with cheers of “si,se puede!”, contains a slush-fund for open borders groups and churches.
So, today, if you attend an ‘Evangelical’ church you might ask your pastor, are we involved with World Relief?
In Minnesota, World Relief of Minnesota, one of several refugee contractors in the state, is getting excited about the new flow of federal money (your money!) into their till should S.744 become law. Thanks to Debbie for sending the following action item. But, before reading below, note that according to World Relief Minnesota’s most recent Form 990, they ‘earned’ $1,364,202 and they received 80% from government grants (from you!) $1,094,793.
Also, note that World Relief (MN) will be joining others on Tuesday evening (May 28th) to hear from Rep. Keith Ellison about what goodies the new immigration law would bring to the refugee program, here.
World Relief: Yippee! more money coming our way! (thanks to help from Keith Ellison!)
If immigration reform passes, World Relief Minnesota sees an opportunity for churches to serve more than 85,000 immigrants in Minnesota who will be needing accurate, low-cost legal services to comply with the new provisions.
On Wednesday, June 5 (9-11am), World Relief Minnesota invites church leaders and immigrant advocates to a preview meeting to learn about specific ways that congregations can provide low-cost legal services and information to these thousands of immigrants in Minnesota.
The preview meeting is being hosted by the Immigrant Hope Coalition, a collaborative effort of Transform Minnesota, Immigrant Hope Network, World Relief Minnesota, CCDA and denominational leaders from Assemblies of God,Christian & Missionary Alliance, Evangelical Free Church of America, and theMinnesota Iowa Baptist Conference.
Wednesday, June 5, 9 – 11 am
Christ’s Church International
13th & Lake Street (3015 – 13th Ave So)
Minneapolis, MN 55407
About Immigrant Legal Service Centers (ILSC)
Across the country, churches and faith-based organizations, have set up accredited, low-cost legal service centers to provide basic services and vital information to help immigrants understand processes and to file their applications with the US Customs & Immigration Services.
Immigrants in your community need these services.
When navigating immigration laws and forms, oftentimes immigrants are taken advantage of, or do not have the money to pay attorney’s fees. These ILSC do not replace the role of attorneys, rather they help give immigrants correct information and assistance to file certain types of applications, from someone who has been accredited to do so.
It is very feasible for a church – or ideally a coalition of churches – to get trained, become accredited and set up an immigrant legal service center. The US Department of Justice has created a process whereby individuals can complete 40 hours of training, gain experience at an existing service center, and then apply to become accredited to provide basic immigration legal services under the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the US DOJ branch responsible for overseeing immigration law.
What to Expect June 5
The preview meeting on June 5 will explain the steps in this process, including information about formal training being offered in the Twin Cities in November 2013, information about operating an ILSC with proper accreditation and technical support, and a description of the kinds of services typically provided to immigrants by an ILSC.
The meeting is free, and no registration is required – but we would appreciate to know in advance who is coming. If you plan to attend click here to fill in this simple “sign up” list so that we can plan accordingly.
Questions?
Contact either:
Alex Mandes – Immigrant Hope | Alex.Mandes@efca.org
Carl Nelson – Transform Minnesota | Carl@transformmn.org | 612-243-2941
If it’s a new day and Somalia is on the mend, then WHY ARE WE STILL IMPORTING SOMALI REFUGEES?
If Somalis from the ‘diaspora’ are traveling back and forth to Somalia to buy real estate and do business, why is the flow of “refugees” still moving Westward? Should we even be calling them “refugees” anymore?
Rep. Keith Ellison scans the horizon for Somali pirates (just kidding!). Photo: Minneapolis Star Tribune
Editors note:As of the end of February (5 months into fiscal year 2013) see, here, the US State Department and its contractors have brought 2,814 new Somali “refugees” to the US (read: new Democrat voters and cheap labor)!
In his opinion piece at Insight News, Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the go-to guy for the federal refugee contractors, tells readers how great Somalia is doing and how the US needs to send more money to the country.
Let’s make a deal—send Somalia more money and let them keep their so-called “refugees.”
Ellison (emphasis mine):
It’s a new day in Somalia. That’s the message I took away from a trip to the capital city of Mogadishu earlier this year. We have our best opportunity in more than two decades to help stabilize Somalia and advance U.S. national security interests — but only if we act quickly.
The improved security situation has filled Mogadishu with new life. Somalis can once again play music and dance, activities banned by terrorist group Al-Shabab, which until recently controlled much of the country. Crowds of people fill the streets, socializing and shopping.
Somali-Americans from my district in Minnesota are starting businesses and buying real estate. And a new generation of Somalis from the global diaspora is returning. One of them started Somalia’s first think tank, the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies. Another woman left her high-paying job on Wall Street to help build up Somalia’s financial sector from scratch.
These positive developments are largely a result of Somalia’s successful political transition last year. After many failed attempts, Somali leaders completed a process that produced the first representative, permanent government since the fall of Siad Barre’s regime in 1991.
Somalia now has a new constitution, parliament and president. In a strong vote of confidence, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton formally recognized the new government when President Hassan Sheik Mohamud visited Washington in January. Mohamud also met with President Obama and more than 20 members of Congress.
Nonetheless, Somalia’s new leaders face challenges that would be difficult even for an experienced, well-resourced government. Ministries are nonexistent or understaffed; there is no public education or established banking system; more than a million people are displaced, and security threats remain serious. However, even the pessimists can no longer say that Somalia is hopeless.
The new government is populated with public servants who want Somalia to succeed. President Mohamud made clear at his meeting on Capitol Hill that security is his top priority. His government must quickly move into areas liberated from Al-Shabab and prove that government can be a force for good, not just a source of corruption and oppression. It can do that by providing basic public services, including trash pickup, transportation, education and a functioning judicial system.
The United States has an opportunity to make an investment in Somalia that could pay huge dividends over time.
