It seems that the subject of Wyoming possibly getting a refugee resettlement program has worked its way into an election year issue. See all of our previous posts on this hot button issue in Wyoming.
A letter this week in the Casper Star Tribune from Dr. Taylor Haynes questions whether it is a good idea for Wyoming to invite the feds in.
The writer describes problems with Somalis elsewhere in the US (check out our post just yesterday from Minnesota!) and in Europe.
For readers in Wyoming who are asking Dr. Haynes, ‘who said anything about Somalis coming to Wyoming?’ let me emphasize again—-WYOMING WILL NOT CHOOSE THE ETHNIC GROUPS IT WILL RECEIVE. The US State Department and the resettlement contractor will.
In this case it’s contractor Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, which has had a hand in bringing Somalis to Greeley and Ft. Morgan, CO (both cities have had many problems with the influx), that would be the lead agency in Wyoming.
Did Governor Mead apply to the Office of Refugee Settlement, indicating that Wyoming is interested in establishing a public–private center to help refugees? If this is true, what would it mean for Wyoming?
What it has wrought in Europe from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom is devastating. Most immigrants from war-torn East Africa have few to no job skills and exhibit tremendous language and cultural handicaps. They overburden the social welfare system. That’s the bright side.
The “rest of the story” is honor killings and unbelievably violent gangs, centered on the various clans from the home country. They have been exposed to the horrors of war from birth. Violence is the only coping means they know.
[….]
We must very sternly question the governor’s motive for making this request. Could it be the federal dollars funneled to the “private charities” to manage the re-settlement of these refugees? If so, which charities have been selected to receive the grant? What are their connections to the governor?
We, the “sitting duck” citizens of Wyoming, must demand that Governor Mead withdraw this request immediately if he made it.
I wish I had more time to write about this (heading out of town), but be sure to visit the story about Dr. Taylor Haynes at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Here is one of the many things he says that has motivated him to run:
Haynes said he’s running because he believes Wyoming needs an executive willing to fight against what he sees as federal meddling in business that the state should be responsible for.
The present governor, Matt Mead, has done just that—invited federal meddling in state business—by opening the door to the US State Department and its refugee resettlement contractors.
We can’t stress to you enough that federal contractors, like Lutheran Family Services, cannot sell a refugee resettlement plan to a community by telling citizens the whole truth up front!
In fact, the driving force behind this blog from day one has been our fury over this very point—if it’s a good program, then dammit tell the public the whole plan. If you can’t sell it with the truth, then it shouldn’t be done with secrecy (or emotional appeals using refugees as poster boys and girls). In fact, this is exactly why citizens everywhere are sick of government at all levels, government-funded non-profits like this Lutheran bunch, and our so-called leaders.
Sorry, let me get to what has me furious!
Below is all you need to know about Gov. Matt Mead’s naive plan!
This is a letter to the editor from a Mr. Cassidy to the Laramie Boomerang(hat tip: Joanne). Emphasis is mine:
Dear Editor,
On Monday, I sent all of the members of the Legislature an email regarding Gov. Matt Mead’s planned creation of a refugee resettlement center in Wyoming.
I wondered why I hadn’t received a single response to my letter. Then I received a copy of the board meeting minutes for the Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountain Area.
Isn’t this a fascinating little paragraph that I found regarding the proposed Wyoming Refugee Resettlement plan? I guess we don’t want the boobs to find out about it until it is fait accompli.
Well, what the heck. I’m sure the government knows what’s best for us. In the future, I’ll try not to point out issues that are supposed to be secret.
“This has been further complicated by both the State and a private citizen advocate providing media availability to a local paper. Media coverage at this stage is potentially damaging to the success of the overall process, especially when it takes place in advance of comprehensive consultation with a broad spectrum of community stakeholders.”
Edward Cassidy
Laramie
Thank you Mr. Cassidy! This is one of the most important pieces of information we have ever posted.
P.S.
You, the taxpaying citizens, who largely fund Lutheran Family Services, are definitely NOT a “stakeholder.”
For all of our previous coverage of the plan to open Wyoming to refugee resettlement, click here.
It is really no surprise, most of the local print media will do this—cave in to Washington and the ruling elites on immigration of any sort with an emotional plea not based on facts—even if the citizens are violently opposed. Seven years ago the local paper where I live did the same thing, but there is no longer a refugee program here.
See our previous coverage of how a Republican governor of Wyoming is begging the feds (the US State Department and the UN) to bring refugees to the only state in the nation that was wise enough to stay out of a program in dire need of a complete overhaul.
From the Casper Star-Tribune(Editorial Board: Wyoming should welcome refugees):
Wyoming must do more to welcome refugees. They are looking to escape the direst of circumstances, from torture to genocide to human trafficking, and we are missing out on the opportunity to help resettle them for everyone’s benefit.
Excuse me while I roll on the floor laughing:
It’s not about welfare. It’s about help in times of horror.
Members of a nongovernmental agency pick up refugees from the airport and take them to an apartment stocked with donations. Refugees begin learning the language, and their children are enrolled in school. They start with food stamps, but for most refugees, government support begins to diminish after eight months. Within four months, they must have jobs. In fact, they’re even required to repay the cost of their plane tickets.
A program would take no state money. The federal government would funnel resettlement money through Wyoming agencies and a nongovernmental organization.
We have thousands of posts on these pages spanning nearly seven years that demonstrate how Wyoming is being sold a bill of goods—won’t cost the state a dime, what a joke!
Why any Republican in his or her right mind would invite the feds to take more control of their state is something I can’t fathom.
Update March 8th: See VDARE for more on this story and how you can help!
Here is the latest puff-piece being circulated around the country about Wyoming (the only state with no refugee resettlement program) beginning to see the light, we are told, and REQUESTING refugees. We first reported the Republican governor’s outreach to the feds here.
As these refugee puff-pieces always do, this one starts out with the lovely success story of Congolese refugee Bertine Bahige (you can read his story yourself).
But, no matter how wonderful a person Bertine Bahige is, and how successful, Wyoming ‘leaders’ must remember at least two things—the cost of the refugees will after a few months be on the backs of the Wyoming taxpayerand no matter what promises you get now, Wyoming will not be choosing the refugees (choosing their nationalities or their religions), nor will it choose how many! The US State Department will be deciding that with its contractors.
So here is the article designed to tug on your heartstrings, but laced with lies. From the Casper Star Tribune(via SFGate) (hat tip: Joanne) Emphasis is mine:
Wyoming is the only state in the nation that doesn’t have a refugee resettlement program.
Bahige is hoping to change that.
He is Wyoming’s delegate for the United Nations Refugee Congress. Since 2010, he’s reached out to the Wyoming congressional delegation, state lawmakers and Gov. Matt Mead in hopes of creating a resettlement program in Wyoming.
Despite roadblocks, he’s pushed the ball in motion.
He’s working with the UW School of Law to draft a plan that Mead will consider for adoption.
They think they are going to get ALL federal money for this (note to Republican Governor Mead—that is taxpayer money too, and it comes with strings! You are handing over your state sovereignty and demographic future to the US State Department.)
No state dollars would fund a refugee resettlement program.The federal government would pump money into state agencies and a nongovernmental organization to oversee the initiative, said Suzan Pritchett, co-director at UW’s Center for International Human Rights Law Advocacy.
Wyoming’s Department of Family Services, Department of Workforce Services and Department of Health are among the agencies that would work with the federal government’s Health and Human Services and State Department to channel the money, said Merit Thomas, a policy adviser in the governor’s office.
Wyomingites, please take a few minutes and have a look at the costs to counties in Georgia for refugee resettlement. From Refugee Resettlement Relief. Here! And, longtime readers know that Tennesseans have for the last couple of years been attempting to get numbers like these out of their state agencies.
Wyoming will not pick the number or the nationalities/religions of refugees!
States like Colorado and Utah received more than 1,000 refugees in 2013. Wyoming would open its doors to a smaller number, Pritchett said. [Suzan Pritchett co-director at UW’s Center for International Human Rights Law Advocacy—ed]
The state’s low immigrant population may make it difficult for refugees who require certain places of worship and other cultural customs, she said.
This above, is of course, a reference to Muslim refugees. Don’t worry Ms. Pritchett, the US State Department will send you Muslims who will in turn build mosques, if you don’t have them already!
“Wyoming is not an immigrant-heavy state,” she said. “It may be inappropriate for some types of immigrant populations to move here.We are thinking about what’s the best fit for Wyoming and the capacity it can handle. It won’t be on the 1,000 per-year end of the scale.” [Again, Wyoming will not be making those decisions!—ed]
Refugees who arrive in the U.S. aren’t arbitrarily picked. After the UN chooses candidates, the Department of Homeland Security vets their backgrounds. Then the State Department chooses what cities will be best for the candidates.
They are not becoming self-sufficient! It may be a goal, but it is not happening! Look how they have chosen their words!
The goal of resettlement is not to enlist people on government welfare programs, Barclay said.
“It’s about self-sufficiency,”he said.
The refugees are enrolled in federal assistance programs like food stamps, but after eight months the federal government begins to wane support for most refugees. [Not true! refugees are on food stamps for years!—ed] Within the first four months, refugees are required to have jobs.One stipulation is that the immigrants have to repay their plane tickets. [And, the contractors get a cut of what they collect!—ed]
In Colorado, 72 percent of all refugees who found work became self-sufficient, said Paul Stein, state refugee coordinator. [72% who found work! What percent found work? And, how long did it take them?—ed]
All over America refugees are not working! Pockets of resistance to new resettlement have developed and the feds are desperate for new territory for thousands entering the US every month, so….
….to the residents of Casper and Gillette—you must ask questions! Lots and lots of questions!
Update: For all of the new readers coming to this post, please see all of our followups on it, here.
Alert!!!! If you know anyone in Wyoming, please send them this story and tell them to get involved NOW!
Wyoming,the only state in the nation that has not actively resettled refugees in the over three decades the program has been operating, will soon be getting refugees thanks to Republican Governor Matt Mead and a Congolese refugee ***pitch man.
Will yours be the chosen town or city? It will be if you remain silent!
***Update February 25th: See pack of lies, here.***
The governor wrote a letter in September to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement saying Wyoming was interested in establishing a public/private center to help refugees.
The federal agency has responded that it was happy to hear of that wish and the work in progress.
Since then, state officials, University of Wyoming officials and the Lutheran Family Services-Rocky Mountain have been working to put a plan together to make it possible.
“There are some federal requirements and we are addressing those,” said Shawn Reese, the policy director in the governor’s office.
Among the decisions to be made is where that resettlement center will be located in Wyoming. University of Wyoming College of Law students will begin a study to determine the best site for that center with a conference call taking place next week to set a timeline for that work.
“They will be conducting community profiles to determine where it makes the most sense,” said Merit Thomas, who also is working on the project. [Will your town or city be the chosen without your consultation (without your knowledge)?—ed]
They don’t know what they are talking about! They (Lutheran Social Services) will receive some initial funding, but Wyoming will be supplying the welfare for YEARS! Do they have any meat or chicken slaughter plants in Wyoming? Is that what the governor wants—cheap laborers?
The center will receive federal funds.
The program provides refugees with some temporary help in finding a home and a job to get them started, but there isn’t a long period of welfare. In Bertine Bahige’s own case, it was just three months. The state also can determine how many refugees it will accept each year. [NO IT WON’T!!!! just ask NH and TN!—ed]
“The center will happen within the next year,” Reese predicted. “We’re trying to get that hammered out.”
“Bertine (Bahige) is a huge player in this,” Thomas said.
Wyomingites must contact the Governor’s Office and get involved in this NOW! See our fact sheet herefor information on what the state is getting itself into!
How do these Republicans not understand that this is part of the Leftist plan to turn RED states BLUE because statistics show that immigrants vote for Democrats who will in turn provide them with more social services!
***Do the people of Wyoming know that the US State Department has announced plans to resettle tens of thousands of Congolese refugees over the next couple of years?