A shift in the federal government's policies about resettling refugees
from other nations very well could have meant the end of the practice in Arkansas and other states.
What’s the point?
Gov. Asa Hutchinson make the right decision to continue allowing Arkansas organizations to accept refugees escaping persecution in other countries.
For decades, resettlement organizations across the nation have devoted themselves to aiding individuals or families deemed unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of a "well-founded fear of persecution" due to race, membership in a particularly social group, political opinion, religion or national origin.
This isn't about illegal immigration, which is generally driven by people drawn to a country by a chance to make better lives. Refugees are people who are pushed out of their own country by circumstances that threaten them with harm or even death.
Thankfully, Gov. Asa Hutchinson last week provided some room for those helping refugees in Arkansas to breath easier. Hutchinson issued an executive order saying Arkansas will continue to accept legally immigrating refugee families.
President Donald Trump, by executive order in September, created a legally suspect power for governors and leaders of "localities" to effectively veto refugee resettlements within their state or local jurisdictions. Under the new approach, any governor who remains silent will be viewed as not welcoming to future participation in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Critics say the Trump administration's ultimate goal is to dismantle the refugee resettlement system. He's already constrained refugee admissions for 2020 to 18,000, down from 30,000 last year and a high of more than 110,000 in 2016.
Why was this shift in policy that allows local veto of the program needed? It wasn't, but going into an election year, it gives President Trump something to crow about to supporters who prefer to keep "outsiders" on the outside. Refugee admissions haven't been a problem, but by forcing governors and localities to affirm their continued willingness to accept refugees, Trump created yet another barrier advocates for refugee resettlement must overcome. Those state and local officials also might face some political fallout for affirming participation, giving them a reason to think twice about doing it.
According to a report Thursday in the Houston Chronicle, at least 34 governors, including 13 Republicans, have given their approval to the continuation of refugee resettlement in their states. We're proud Arkansas' governor is among them.
The Chronicle noted Texas' governor, Greg Abbott, had so far remained silent on the matter. For years, the newspaper reported, Texas has accepted more refugees than any other state in the country.
A Canopy Northwest Arkansas leader last week acknowledged Hutchinson's decision. The organization worked with two federally designated resettlement organizations to get Northwest Arkansas accepted as a resettlement site in 2016. It's got to be hard, though, to express gratitude when the entire reason Hutchinson gets to make a decision is Trump's pursuit of new restrictions on the effort.
"I don't want to make it more than it is, which is that we will continue to do what we are doing, but we appreciate the governor's support," said Clint Schnekloth, a local pastor who is chairman of Canopy's board.
It seems to us that Arkansas' governor and localities ought to have feedback when the question of refugee resettlement arises. It shouldn't be shoved down their throats. But it's clear there haven't been any problems around these parts. Canopy helps to get refugees established with living quarters, jobs and education. It can take years for a refugee to complete all the steps necessary to be accepted into the refugee resettlement program, and Trump's latest limits are sure to make that process even longer.
Republican state Sen. Trent Garner of El Dorado now wants a Senate investigation of Hutchinson's decision, embracing the worst kinds of refugee stereotyping possible. Last week Garner criticized Hutchinson for making the announcement at Christmastime "when most of state government is off for the holidays," questioning what security was in place to protect Arkansans and where refugees will be allowed to resettle.
Garner is clearly ignorant of the fact resettlements have been going on for a while or that we're not talking about mass invasions, as some might have viewed Cubans in 1980 or refugees from Vietnam a few years before that. In Northwest Arkansas, resettlement might involve a few dozen in a busy year.
Trump's policy appears to be a nudge, creating an opportunity for some officials to put the kibosh on resettlement efforts. There's little reason to do that other than a misplaced and unAmerican attitude of not liking "those people." We're glad Trent Garner isn't our governor.
And it's our hope that all governors and local officials won't take Trump's bait.
Commentary on 12/29/2019