County says it won't accept Syrian refugees
Many Flathead County residents are opposed to Syrian refugees being resettled in the county.
County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday morning to send a letter expressing this opinion to Anne Richard, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration at the U.S. Department of State.
The letter states: “The Director of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have both stated on the record that it is not possible to adequately investigate the legitimacy of each refugee’s status. Influx of refugees will overburden our community’s social services, health care agencies, affordable housing, job opportunities and local school districts, many of which carry an impact to our local taxpayers.
“Therefore, we cannot support the relocation of refugees without a legitimate vetting process and an analysis of refugee impacts to our local community.”
Commissioner Philip Mitchell received about 40 phone calls in the days leading up to the vote. Only two of the calls were against the letter.
He said he tries to represent the majority opinion of county residents, which he believes is in favor of sending the letter.
The U.S. is an “open country,” Mitchell said, citing numbers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. About 1 million people are given permanent residence in the United States annually, according to the most recent data available from 2013.
Mitchell also said he liked former presidential candidate Ben Carson’s comment after visiting refugees in Jordan. Carson said that most Syrians would rather be resettled in their own country, than in the United States. Mitchell said most U.S. citizens would have the same sentiment if there was a crisis in America. Thus, America’s money would be better spent on helping the refugees stay in Syria, he said.
“Billions of dollars” are already being used to try to help people around the world, Mitchell said.
People crowded around the doors of the commissioner’s office during the public hearing prior to the commissioners’ vote. More than 100 people attended the meeting, but no opposition to the letter was expressed.
Alex Parkhurst of Columbia Falls said refugees are a security risk because “the Islamic State has publicly stated that they will be infiltrating the refugee populations around the world.”
Dennis Gomez of Kalispell grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, which he claims has the largest population of Syrians in the country. He said sharia law is being enforced in his hometown and he doesn’t want that to come to Flathead County.
Taylor Rose said he is supportive of the letter because the horrors occurring in Europe, such as mass rape on New Year’s Eve, are just as likely to occur in Flathead County if Syrians are allowed in.
Will Parker of Kila, an expatriate of Qatar, said: “I can personally attest to their inability to assimilate into our community, and our way of life.”
Doug Miller limited his time to a simple compliment: “I think we should thank the commissioners for demonstrating what a democratic republic looks like.”
The letter will also be the commissioner’s official statement to Gov. Steve Bullock. The governor hasn’t opposed refugees being resettled in the state, but has said they’ll be refused if there is a safety concern.
Mitchell said that residents are welcome to send additional letters to the governor.
Sen. Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke are both opposed to allowing refugees into the state.
Flathead County hasn’t been asked to take in refugees yet.
The Ravalli County Commissioners also sent a letter opposing refugees in February, in reaction to the Missoula County Commissioner’s letter of support for refugees settling in Missoula. Flathead County’s letter is online at https://flathead.mt.gov/commissioner/.