Secretary of State Kerry asked 17 Pertinent Questions
For several months, there have been reports in the social media indicating that Spartanburg, South Carolina, has been selected as the destination for a large number of refugees from Syria, Congo and Bhutan.
Lisa Benson, a national security specialist tracking Muslim influence in the United States, reported that a World Relief contractor is establishing an office in Spartanburg, and that a former local Baptist pastor had been named Executive Director of the office.
The alleged plans to move refugees to Spartanburg was also discussed at the National Security Summit held in Columbia, Saturday, March 14, 2015.
On March 18, The Times Examiner published a page one story titled: Spartanburg to be colonized as “Refugee Seed Community.” The Spartanburg Herald Journal and Talk Radio WORD have also reported on the matter. As time passed, more questions were raised than answered. Only the church and business groups directly involved in the refugee project knew what was taking place, and they were not making public statements.
It was inevitable that the questions would eventually be laid at the feet of Fourth District Congressman Trey Gowdy.
On Monday, April 13, Congressman Gowdy sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry seeking information on the refugee matter.
“I write regarding the potential resettlement of refugees to the Spartanburg, SC area. It has been reported by media outlets, and confirmed by staff within your Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), that a resettlement agency submitted a proposal to open an office in Spartanburg. In addition, it is my understanding that the U. S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) approved the request to resettle a certain number of refugees in Spartanburg.
“As a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the Spartanburg area, I am deeply concerned about the lack of notice, information, and consultation afforded to me and my constituents about this issue. As such, please provide the information requested and answers to questions below.”
1. Please provide a copy of the proposal submitted by the resettlement agency and any subsequent correspondence between your Department and the resettlement agency.
2. When was the resettlement agency’s proposal submitted? When was it approved by USRAP?
3. How were the claims made in the proposal as to Spartanburg’s readiness to resettle refugees verified for accuracy by USRAP prior to approval?
4. What, if any, steps were taken to notify and consult with local government officials (elected or otherwise) prior to the approval of the resettlement proposal? If so, who was contacted and did they approve the proposal?
5. Which officials/employees of the South Carolina State government reviewed and approved the resettlement agency’s proposal? When was such approval given? Were these officials/employees contacted by USRAP to independently ensure approval was given?
6. What types of, and how much, funding will the resettlement agency receive from the federal government? How much of that amount must be provided to the refugees and how much can be kept by the resettlement agency?
7. When are the first refugees expected to arrive in Spartanburg?
8. What federal, state, and local benefits are the refugees entitled to receive a) upon designation as a refugee and b) upon resettlement in the Spartanburg area?
9. How many refugees will be resettled in the Spartanburg area?
10. How are the refugees chosen to resettle in Spartanburg?
11. What is the country of origin of each of the refugees to be resettled in the Spartanburg area?
12. Who is responsible for ensuring housing, employment, and education services for the resettled refugees?
13. Who is responsible for ensuring resettled refugees maintain employment, as opposed to tracking employment for the first few months after being resettled?
14. How many of the refugees to be resettled in the Spartanburg area are of the age to attend K–12 schools? Of those, how many need the local government to provide interpreters or teachers who speak the native language of the refugee for the students?
15. Do any of the refugees to be resettled in the Spartanburg area have criminal convictions? If so, for what crimes has each been convicted?
16. Please explain the background check process performed on refugees scheduled to be resettled in Spartanburg.
17. Will this be the only time refugees will be resettled to the Spartanburg area pursuant to the agency’s proposal? Or can additional refugees be resettled pursuant to the proposal?
Gowdy requested that “any plans to resettle refugees in the Spartanburg, South Carolina, area be placed on hold until my constituents and I receive your substantive response to the questions and information requested in this letter. Additionally, before moving forward, both the Spartanburg community and I should have time to substantively review the information and be comfortable with the information provided.
“As previously stated, I am troubled by the lack of notice and coordination with my office and the Spartanburg community, particularly local officials, regarding the plans to resettle refugees in the area. In that vein, I request at least one month’s notice prior to the arrival of the first refugee in the Spartanburg area.”
