In an open letter to Emily Berge, president of the Eau Claire city council, Congressman Tom Tiffany (R-WI07) expressed serious concerns over plans by World Relief, a non-profit organization, to resettle hundreds of Somali refugees in rural Wisconsin. The organization is set to receive thousands of dollars from the Biden administration per refugee that it successfully resettles in the area.
“I raise these concerns because the Biden administration’s lax approach to screening incoming foreigners is well known. The resettlement of tens of thousands of Afghans in 2021, for example, resulted in the admission of several individuals with past criminal convictions – including people who had been previously deported, and the resettlement of others who went on to commit appalling crimes ranging from assault to sexual abuse of minors. In addition to potential safety considerations, residents have voiced concerns about the costs of absorbing these refugees into the local school system, their impact on housing costs and availability, and the additional strain they will place on social safety net programs – particularly at a time when many current residents are grappling with rising costs and struggling to make ends meet. Given the dangerous conditions in these countries, and the Biden administration’s alarming track record when it comes to vetting newcomers, it is inconceivable that the local community would be kept in the dark in this way.”, said Tom Tiffany.
Despite requirements under federal law for government officials engaged in refugee relocation efforts to consult regularly with state and local governments concerning resettlement plans prior to their implementation in those localities; there has been no consultation with elected officials or public safety officials in Eau Claire area.
According to Restoration News report; World Relief has planned without consultation with any local elected official or representative including city council members county council members school boards as well as police and fire departments; move 75 Somali refugees by 2024.
The report also highlights federal “family reunification” policies allow refugees bring family members which could potentially expand the number of refugees into hundreds or thousands in the coming years.
Senior field representative for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Susan Tully, highlighted that Somali refugees who began resettling in Minnesota in 2001 have now expanded to nearly 90,000 Somalis in the state. She also stressed there is no legitimate government to deport them back to Somalia if they committed crimes.
A 2019 Fox News report called Minneapolis, where a large population of Somali refugees have settled, the “terrorist recruitment capital of the US,”. The report linked this title with ‘lax’ vetting and screening processes over years.
The US State Department pays organizations like World Relief $2,425 per refugee resettled into the country to help cover their basic needs such as rent, food and clothing.
World Relief faced criticism in 2017 for failing to provide these basic services to a group of relocated refugees in Murfreesboro Tennessee despite receiving funding from The US State Department. This left care for these refugees ultimately up to local groups and governments.
World Relief was funded in part by liberal-supporting foundations like Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and Margaret Cargill Foundation. In 2022 alone; World Relief posted $125 million revenues and spent $50 million on resettling refugees.
Residents of Eau Claire demonstrated outside a World Relief event held on Oct. 23rd expressing their frustrations towards the plan and lack of transparency from both government and World Relief.
Concluding his letter; Congressman Tiffany requested Emily Berge and her council members allow residents an opportunity for public comments on any resettlement plans. He also asked that they collaborate with state officials and county officials fully assessing costs of any resettlement plans on Wisconsin taxpayers.
