Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) says communities overburdened with refugees, requests GAO investigation
Posted by acorcoran on July 23, 2010
Update July 26th: Friends of Refugees has more commentary on this story, here.
Update July 25th: More from Ft. Wayne including shocking statistics about the number of refugees arriving there with TB, here.
Well finally someone in Congress has noticed. Senator Richard Lugar, the US Senator for Indiana, home to one of the most stressed refugee resettlement cities in the US—Ft. Wayne—has taken action with the release of a report this week and a request for a GAO investigation of the program!
From the Journal Gazette:
The federal government must do more to help communities like Fort Wayne that are home to thousands of refugee immigrants, according to a report released Wednesday by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
The report, given to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cited Fort Wayne numerous times as an example of the challenges facing cities that receive large refugee populations. It said many refugees have no English knowledge, many are illiterate even in their native languages and many arrive with numerous health concerns – all of which put a financial burden on the new community.
“Staff found that resettlement efforts in some U.S. cities are underfunded, overstretched, and failing to meet the basic needs of the refugee populations they are currently asked to assist. Especially in a difficult economic climate, the current structure of the U.S. resettlement system is proving a strain on local resources and community relations,” Lugar wrote in the report.
For example, Lugar listed how local health officials in Allen County “stumbled upon” increased rates of hepatitis B among the Burmese refugee population. Treating the lifelong condition added further cost to the community, according to the report. [We told you about this and the TB rate in Ft. Wayne as early as 2007, here, in 'Ft. Wayne freaking out!']
Thank goodness someone in a position to do something has taken notice of the unfunded mandates the refugee program places on communities. Hopefully the answer from Washington won’t be, let’s just throw more taxpayer money at the problem. Maybe finally there will be a discussion about why we are importing poverty!
Toward the end of the Journal Gazette story, we see this interesting information, and something we have been wishing for too—a request for a GAO investigation.
“In the future, the administration may determine that an increase in Federal funding or decrease in refugee admissions is warranted. But the practice of passing the costs of resettling refugees on to local communities should not continue,” Lugar wrote. “The administration and Congress must ensure that the refugee resettlement system is properly structured so that it continues to be perceived as a benefit and not a burden.”
In addition to releasing the report, Lugar asked the Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive review of the U.S. refugee resettlement system.
For Senator Lugar’s press release that includes a link to his report, go here.
We have written dozens and dozens of posts on Ft. Wayne and its refugee problems, use our search function for Ft. Wayne to learn more.
Note from Ann: I know I’m missing some really good stories and wish I could post more at RRW, but am really busy in Maryland for the election season, see for example, here.
6 Responses to “Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) says communities overburdened with refugees, requests GAO investigation”
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Tennessee takes major first step to regain some local control of refugee resettlement process « Refugee Resettlement Watch said
[...] especially in Ft. Wayne) authored a major report on this same issue—absorptive capacity—here last [...]
World Relief in Ft. Wayne, IN is closing, not enough refugees being resettled « Refugee Resettlement Watch said
[...] of the refugee program and the financial and social impact it has on cities and states, here. From my observation, it appears the only way to get the State Department to take notice of [...]
Nellie CA said
THEY NEED TO CLOSE ALL THE REFUGEE PROGRAMS UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SAFE AND THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT TERRORS AND THEY CAN BE EDUCATED TO ADAPT TO OUR COUNTRY LAWS AND WAY OF LIFE.
OBAMA WILL MISS THE VOTES!
THERE IS A BURDEN ON THE STATES, BUSINESSES WHO HIRE THESE PEOPLE, WELFARE, ALL A BURDEN TO THE TAX PAYERS. MANY PEOPLE IN MY AREA ARE UNEMPLOYED AND THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT HAS RUN OUT AND THEY DON’T QUALIFY FOR WELFARE OR ANY KIND OF HELP. SINGLE MAN LIVING ON LESS THAN A 1000 A MONTH AND RENT 500 A MONTH. THESE ARE AMERICANS! SOCIAL SECURITY WAS CUT FROM COST OF LIVING BUT OR GOVERNMENT KEEPS BRINGING IN MORE REFUGEES.
FOR OUR COUNTRY’S SAFETY WE MUST CLOSE THE BORDERS AND STOP THE REFUGEE PROGRAMS.
Arleine Demien said
WHEN IS THE ERSATZ KENYAN PRESIDENT OBAMA TO BE IMPEACHED FROM OFFICE? HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO OMIT REFERENCE TO THE CREATOR WHEN DELIVERING OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO A MEXICAN CROWD, INTENTIONALLY. ANY AMERICAN WOULD HAVE BEEN VERBALLY LAMBASTED AND THE PRESS WOULD HAVE GROUND THEM TO PIECES. WHY MUST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TOLERATE THIS OUTSIDER (ILLEGALLY ON THE BALLOT – HE’S NOT 100% BORN-HERE AMERICAN) WHO’S WALKING ALL OVER US WHILE CONGRESS DOES NOTHING TO FULFILL ITS OATH OF OFFICE OR PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
PERHAPS IT’S TIMR FOR MANY OF YOU TO BE REPLACED BY TEA-PARTY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. WE WANT OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, AS FOUNDED, WITHOUT A KENYAN MUSLIM EXCUSE FOR PRESIDENT. PUT ON THE BALLOT BY THE HORRIBLE ANTI-AMERTICAN, WOULD-BE DICTATOR,PELOSI. THEY AND ALL WHO WERE AWARE OF THIS MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED OR BETTER YET, TRIED FOR TREASON. DID YOU ALSO VOTE TO PROSECUTE ARIZONA FOR UPHOLDING OUR AMERICAN LAW? WHAT’S GOING ON IN CONGRESS THAT MANY OF YOU AREN’T KEEPING YOUR OATH OF OFFICE AND THINK YOU HAVE ANY RIGHT TO GO AGAINST OUR LAWS AND THE PEOPLE? RIDDING THE COUNTRY OF THE ILLEGALS, PAYING THEM OUT OF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, HANDING THEM FREE EVERYTHING IS AGAINST OUR LAWS & A BREECH OF YOUR WORD. AMERICAN LAWS ARE MADE FOR CITIZENS, NOT LAWBREAKERS.
PERHAPS YOU’VE BEEN IN OFFICE TOO LONG. MOST OF YOU IN CONGRESS SEEM TO HAVE THE IDEA YOU’RE ABOVE THE LAW(S)AND PEOPLE. yOU’VE LOST YOUR MEMORY OF WE’RE ALL CREATED EQUAL.” YOU AREN’T ROYALTY BECAUSE WE VOTE FOR YOU. YOU SEEM TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATS AND THEIR ILLEGAL KENYAN FIGUREHEAD TOO FREQUENTLY FOR THIS VOTER. STILL CAN’T BELIEVE HE HAD THE GALL TO INTENTIONALLY CHANGE THE WORDING OF OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND NONE OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT IT YOU WEAKLINGS. HE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT AMERICAN IS. WHY HAVEN’T THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BEEN ALLOWED TO SEE WHAT HE WAS REGISTERED AS WHEN HE ATTENDED HARVARD? IT’S OUR SCHOOL – NOT HIS! A MAN ILLEGALLY PUT IN THE PRESIDENCY BY YOUR DISHONEST MEMBER. A MAN WHO PAYS LEGAL FIRMS TO HIDE HIS NATIONALITY AND CONGRESS WITHOUT BACKBONE TO MAKE HIM COME CLEAN.
Arleine J. Demien said
Sorry, but my statement/question is this: When I turned on my computer this a.m. one of the first items on it stated: the new illegal president Obama quoted our Declaration of Independence and omitted any reference to our CREATOR (as it was wwritten). Who in the Hell is this “outsider” that he thinks he can remodel our Articles of Government, etc? Even if he was an American, he could be put before a trial. Just what do you ELECTED think you’re doing or who do you represent these days? Certainly NOT the American people. Do you think you are in that office to satisfy the OUTSIDERS? Also, reading the articles above in reference to Ft. Wayne having these illegal baggages bring their diseases to therm, or how illiterate they are, or how ignorang they are of our language,etc. Who does Congress, with you supposedly representing the Hoosier State of Indiana, think you are by NOT prosecuting these people and seeing they are returned to their couintry(ies). Do you money-grabbers today think you’re not to listen to the citizens fo the UI.S. When are YOU ELECTED going to see justice is done and either impeach this president (illegal) or try him for treason? He is the worst thing that has ever happened to this nation and it’s all your faault – with Pelosi, the top LIAR leading the pack and tampering with documents she had no right to touch to put him on the ballot. This woman deserves to be thrown out of her position last week.
POut your answer in the newspapers of the country – for all of the citiznes of the U. S. to read. Don’t forget, as your article above reads – you’re wanting to retain your office, but don’t be too sure about it – no matter how long you’ve been in office, if you can’t represent America and protect the American people, and our Constitution andf our Declaration of Independence from this Muslim terrorist lover, you do NOT belong in our congress. Seems most of you have forgotten the OATH OF OFFICE you take when you becvome a Senator or Representative. We are all fed up with your milking ghe American people to dferath andf doin a job on us and we cant’ stand this anti-American president who has no experience except that he has been trained to do a job on this cvountry. If you like him,k y8ou live with him – We don’t like anything he’s done or is involved with. His entire administration of Benedfict Arnolds of the American people needs to be gone yesterday. Treason would be better to charge all of them, especially Pelosi and the Kenyan Muslim, Obama.
Really disappointed with you & so are many others. You seem to be more of a lib than an Conservative. ILLEGALS
Obama State Department: No Iraqi refugee airlift anticipated « Refugee Resettlement Watch said
[...] their resettlement—some have even returned to the Middle East. Or, maybe hop on over to Senator Lugar’s office and learn more about how the refugee program is working on the ground in overburdened cities like [...]