Opposes Refugees

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By -

Editor, Times-Union:

Dear Metzger Family:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concern about the number of Burma refugees resettling in the 3rd District. I appreciate hearing from you.

The admission of refugees to the United States and their resettlement here are authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under the INA, a refugee is someone outside of his or her country that is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality or political opinion. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) determines who qualifies as a refugee and, depending on availability; it has been U.S. policy to admit at least half of the refugees referred by the UNHCR for resettlement each year.

If admitted to the United States, the federal government works with voluntary agencies to ensure that the incoming refugee will be met at the airport, and that arrangements have been made for food, shelter and adjustment to American society and culture.

We have many great organizations in the 3rd District that help refugees resettle in our community. The acute influx of refugees from Burma settling in the 3rd District has placed an egregious burden on our local volunteer organizations. Many of these organizations simply cannot bear the increases without federal help.

You may be interested to know that I recently sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the flood of Burma refugees resettling in our community. In the letter, I expressed support for federal assistant to help cover the costs. In response, the State Department has agreed to limit family reunion cases in the 3rd District and work with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that this doesn't happen again in Fiscal Year 2008.

Thank you for keeping in touch with me. If I may be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again. I also encourage you to visit my Web site, which may be found online at www.Souder.House.gov

Sincerely,

Mark Souder

Member of Congress

Be prepared to bring the whole world here because everyone can claim persecution from something or somebody.

Tom Metzger

Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]

Editor, Times-Union:

Dear Metzger Family:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concern about the number of Burma refugees resettling in the 3rd District. I appreciate hearing from you.

The admission of refugees to the United States and their resettlement here are authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under the INA, a refugee is someone outside of his or her country that is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality or political opinion. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) determines who qualifies as a refugee and, depending on availability; it has been U.S. policy to admit at least half of the refugees referred by the UNHCR for resettlement each year.

If admitted to the United States, the federal government works with voluntary agencies to ensure that the incoming refugee will be met at the airport, and that arrangements have been made for food, shelter and adjustment to American society and culture.

We have many great organizations in the 3rd District that help refugees resettle in our community. The acute influx of refugees from Burma settling in the 3rd District has placed an egregious burden on our local volunteer organizations. Many of these organizations simply cannot bear the increases without federal help.

You may be interested to know that I recently sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the flood of Burma refugees resettling in our community. In the letter, I expressed support for federal assistant to help cover the costs. In response, the State Department has agreed to limit family reunion cases in the 3rd District and work with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that this doesn't happen again in Fiscal Year 2008.

Thank you for keeping in touch with me. If I may be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again. I also encourage you to visit my Web site, which may be found online at www.Souder.House.gov

Sincerely,

Mark Souder

Member of Congress

Be prepared to bring the whole world here because everyone can claim persecution from something or somebody.

Tom Metzger

Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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