South Dakota cutting back on refugees it takes
(good news if there isn’t a catch), by Ann Corcoran 9/17/16
At a time when
refugee offices are expanding nationwide and new offices are opening, South
Dakota state coordinator Tim Jurgens tells the Argus Leader that SD is cutting back because it is “mindful of people
opposed to welcoming refugees.” Wow! Can we take this as a hopeful
sign that someone is listening!
Argus Leader (hat tip: Elena): South Dakota won’t
participate in the White House’s next push to increase the number of refugees
escaping poverty and violence.
Aberdeen Mayor
Mike Levsen couldn’t possibly be too thrilled to hear this news (unless they
are shifting Huron’s numbers to Aberdeen). In April he was looking for more
refugee labor as we reported in a post which went viral here this week.
The director of
the lone resettlement program in South Dakota said it would not participate in
the federal effort, citing the debate over immigration in the state.
“There’s people
that fall on both sides of this particular issue,” said Tim Jurgens, director
of Lutheran Social Service’s Center for New Americans.
Jurgens said the center won’t increase its
numbers, in part because it wants to be mindful of people opposed to welcoming
refugees.
“We try to
visit with anybody, regardless of their opinion and try to inform them of the
process and collect their input,” Jurgens said.
Meanwhile, the group has raised millions of
dollars for a new space for its refugee services, and was awarded a $250,000
grant Thursday from the federal government to help immigrants prepare for
citizenship.
Fewer refugees are finding a home in Sioux
Falls and the rest of the state in recent years in spite of the federal
government’s wishes. Lutheran Social Services plans to end a direct
resettlement program in Huron at the end of the month. Continue
reading here.
I traveled to
Aberdeen and Huron this summer and met some great people who are pretty unhappy
about the influx of refugees in recent years mostly to work in meat packing
plants there (remember, cheap labor is the major driver of refugee resettlement
in America!).
https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2016/09/17/south-dakota-cutting-back-on-refugees-it-takes-good-news-if-there-isnt-a-catch/
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