Refugee Resettlement in the Chippewa Valley
20 years in the future - a different Menomonie?
What follows is my research summary of this rising issue. I shared it with Mayor Knaack in November. It is an evolving work in progress but I think it is a good place to start a conversation.
Contents:
Background
Where will the refugees come from?
Are they sufficiently vetted during the application process? - short answer, “no”
How this affects you - a look at federal law and the power of local governments
Is resettlement of refugees through this federal program a good fit for Menomonie? - some challenges we currently face in our community
Refugee Resettlement of Somalis in St. Cloud, MN - university enrollment plummets
Somali Refugees in Edina, MN by Bonnie Christensen - If you read nothing else of this article, please scroll down and read this personal testimony of how Muslim refugees have impacted Edina.
An Issue Paper for Mayor Randy Knaack's Consideration
by Joyce Uhlir, 11/20/23
Photo by Elin Tabitha on Unsplash
Background
An affiliate office of World Relief (an Evangelical Christian voluntary agency or VOLAG) has recently opened in Eau Claire and states the following:
“By September 30, 2024, we anticipate that World Relief-Wisconsin will resettle approximately 75 individuals in the Chippewa Valley, likely representing fifteen to twenty family units.”
Understand that that is just the number for the first year and we can reasonably expect a similar or larger number to arrive annually through that office as long as it remains. Every refugee that arrives is also allowed to send for family members to come join them here, which could quickly increase numbers.
Where will the refugees come from?
Source: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FY-2024-USRAP-Report-to-Congress_FINAL-Accessible-11.02.2023.pdf page 63
“We do not know with certainty which countries the refugees resettled to the Chippewa Valley will be from, but the top two countries of origin for refugees resettled to Wisconsin last year were Burma and the Democratic Republic of Congo. More than 80% of refugees resettled to Wisconsin in Fiscal Year 2023 came from one of these two countries, and we anticipate receiving individuals and families from these two countries in the coming year (Source: U.S. Department of State Refugee Processing Center).”
https://worldrelief.org/wiblog-frequently-asked-questions-about-refugee-resettlement-in-the-chippewa-valley/
Are they sufficiently vetted during the application process?
Many of the countries on the chart above, like The Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, are extremely dangerous places which are currently in chaos. How could our government possibly vet these refugees? There are surely no good police or medical records available. There is also a sizable amount of fraud occurring internationally in the vetting process.
“The current U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigation into Burmese refugees who entered the United States using false identities is just one recent example of the program’s rampant fraud. In this case, as many as 1,700 individuals may have either falsified their own data or whose personal information was used by someone else to gain fraudulent entry into the country.”
“As early as the 1990s, fraudulent refugee claims were commonplace in the still-operating U.S. refugee program in Cuba and among the tens of thousands of Somalis who entered the United States in the early 2000s under false identities.”
Source for both quotes: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/us-refugee-program-needs-a-complete-overhaul
How this affects you
World Relief – Chippewa Falls (one of two branches of World Relief – Wisconsin) has a resettlement range of 100 miles in all directions of Eau Claire, so they would be technically able, with city permission, to resettle refugees in Menomonie. In reality, we are probably within the 100 mile range already of other VOLAG affiliates in the Twin Cities. There will surely be a push to resettle some in Menomonie before long.
My understanding is that no refugees can be resettled in a municipality without the city's knowledge and consent and that the federal government cannot force a municipality to accept refugees. My best understanding of this complicated process, is that the Mayor signs a document and gives permission.
You know that in Wisconsin, municipalities have a lot of power over what they do. This also seems to apply to refugee resettlement.
Federal law regarding refugee resettlement can be found in 8 US Code 1522.
8 US Code 1522
(1)(A)(iii) - “local voluntary agency activities should be conducted in close cooperation and advance consultation with State and local governments.”
(2)(A) - “The Director and Federal agency administering subsection (b)(1) shall consult regularly (not less than quarterly) with State and local governments and private nonprofit voluntary agencies concerning the sponsorship process and the intended distribution of refugees among the States and localities before their placement in those States and localities.”
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1522 (Emphasis added.)
If you decide to invite refugees to resettle in this community, I ask you to make sure these federal laws are followed, and that important questions specific to the situation are answered, and that thought is given to how many permanent guests Menomonie can reasonably assist BEFORE you sign something that could have a dramatic impact on this community well into the future.
Is resettlement of refugees through this federal program a good fit for Menomonie?
You are certainly aware that this area is struggling financially right now.
The SDMA is quite concerned about the future of local education if they can't pass a referendum next year. Non-English speaking refugees from an entirely different religion and culture will further stress that system.
About half of the students in our public schools are currently receiving free or reduced lunch. The SDMA says demographic challenges specific to Menomonie are responsible for academic test scores lower than neighboring districts.
Stout's enrollments are significantly down and will probably be reduced further when Minnesota starts giving away free college education next fall to their low-income residents.
Are our medical systems stressed right now to the point of possibly losing our hospital? Mayo has recently closed our labor and delivery ward and has been sending out requests for monetary donations, at least partially due to slow and insufficient government reimbursements. How will an influx of refugees on public assistance impact Mayo Red Cedar's viability?
Stepping Stones is doing their very best to keep people fed and housed locally but demand keeps increasing and the shelter they opened this month already has a waiting list!
A lack of affordable housing is seen as one of the top challenges for our community at this time.
Ask yourself - if churches, groups and individuals are truly willing and able to provide enough support to keep these newcomers fed and housed in a reasonable way, why have they been unable to effectively alleviate the poverty of our own residents up to this point.
In summary, before you bring home the puppy, please check to see if it is actually a baby wolf.
Source: https://wallpapersafari.com/wolf-cub-wallpaper-for-computer/
Refugee Resettlement of Somalis in St. Cloud, MN
Dr. Jeff Johnson from St. Cloud, MN spoke in Eau Claire recently about the effect large numbers of resettled Somali refugees has had on that community. Johnson served on the St. Cloud City Council from 2010 to 2018.
He first became aware of a problem in 2017 when he was contacted by the Federation of American Immigration Reform – http://fairus.org/. “Do you realize your city is violating federal statutes in regard to refugee resettlement?”
Johnson started looking into how refugees were coming into his area and was having a hard time getting answers to his questions. A lot seemed to be happening in back room agreements or, perhaps, NO agreements. He brought forward a very controversial resolution to the Council to just put a hold on receiving new refugees until it could be determined if things were being done legally. He was vilified and attacked for questioning the process.
Hundreds of Somali refugees have been resettled in St. Cloud. The current Somali population there is unclear because a strong Somali community has formed there and lots of family members have come to join the original settlers. Also there is a lot of travel in and out of St. Cloud from one US Somali area to another. There are hundreds and hundreds, though. [*more on these numbers below]
“Is St. Cloud, MN Safe?
“The F grade means the rate of crime is much higher than the average US city. St. Cloud is in the 1st percentile for safety, meaning 99% of cities are safer and 1% of cities are more dangerous. . . The rate of crime in St. Cloud is 162.8 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. . . Your chance of being a victim of crime in St. Cloud may be as high as 1 in 1 in the east neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 60 in the northwest part of the city.”
Source: https://crimegrade.org/safest-places-in-st-cloud-mn/ (Emphasis added)
A police officer told Johnson that if a person who looks Somali rolls through a stop sign or something, that they will not be pulled over. Once they say “no speak English” the officer has to find a translator before continuing with the traffic stop and it isn't worth the time to even try to enforce the law.
Johnson, who teaches at St. Cloud State, has seen the enrollment there drop over 53% since 2010 as crime has increased in the city. There are specific financial incentives for colleges to enroll refugees.
One of the dorms made empty by reduced enrollment has been turned over completely to housing Somalis and that has become a high crime area.**
Source: https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/2021/10/26/enrollment-declines-persist-st-cloud-higher-ed-across-state/6173780001/
Somali Refugees in Edina, MN by Bonnie Christensen
“I was a practitioner in an acupuncture office off France Ave. in Edina for a year. It gave me much time to observe Somali patients. We had a large clinic. One side was for Somali patients, the other for Americans. The Somalis preferred that. They would arrive usually driven by a Somali driver. Because he would be paid for the amount of rides he gave a day, by the State of Minnesota, he was usually impatient and in a hurry. He might bring in 5-6 patients at a time. They often demanded that their rides be given preferential treatment and be treated immediately. I once was instructed to ask a driver to sit down and wait patiently because he was loud and demanding. Somalis are loud by nature. It is a cultural thing due to the fact they were nomads dealing with windy locations and distances. When you get a young man, wildly gesticulating and demanding in a loud voice, it puts the rest of patients in an uncomfortable setting. These young men do not accept women telling them anything, including to sit down. If looks could kill, they would. Since they can be using khat, a Schedule1 drug which includes heroin and LSD, their eyes are often bloodshot and scary when combined with their loudness and gesticulations.
If you look up khat, aka qaad, aka jaad, you will find it combats fatigue, leads to psychosis associated with depression, mood swings and violent behavior. It is of course illegal - even in Somalia. That does not stop its use. It is permissible in Islam as an alternative to alcohol which is forbidden.
I dealt with many Somali patients. Since the women are not allowed in public without a male escort, usually a family member, one incident comes to mind. A middle-aged mother came in with her son, who accompanied her to the exam room. I was going to do a hip treatment and asked the son to leave the room with me while she changed into a gown. He leapt up angrily, stripped his mother, and said, "She is my mother!" The woman stood there mutely, with no expression on her face and I realized this was not the first time something like this had happened to her. The women may wear a burka or a long billowing gown with a slip under it. No bra or panties. The slip is held above the breasts by elastic. It is easily pulled down.
When the women came to the clinic, which was in a very nice multi-storied professional building, they often used the restroom. We knew which stall they used due to the water on the floor. Due to the fact that over 99% of Somali women are subjected to Female Genital Mutilation between the age of 5 and 9, they do not use toilet paper, preferring to toss water at themselves for cleanup. The WHO has categorized Somali FGM as the Pharaonic Form, also known as infibulation. It is type 3 FGM.
Infibulation is the removal of the clitoris and both inner and outer labia. Vulva edges are then sewn together with a small opening for urine and menses to pass out. This is done to prevent intercourse because children out of wedlock is a grave offense. The women suffer greatly the rest of their lives. After childbirth, they are sewn up again, until about the fourth pregnancy, then there is too much damage.
Men can marry four wives if they can afford them. 36% of girls marry before 18. 17% marry before 15. Ten year olds can be married if they have reached puberty. Most women have six children. Eight is common. Marriage is often forced due to strengthening clan affiliations. Victims of rape are at fault. They are often forced to marry the rapist to preserve family honor.
Same sex relations are illegal in Somalia. Punishment includes flogging and death.
Islam is the State religion in Somalia. There is no protection at all of any kind for Christians. Anyone teaching Christianity can be executed. Being Christian in Somalia is illegal. Sharia law prevents conversion to Christianity. All law must comply with the principles of Islam. (Sharia Law)
Somalia has the death penalty, including those under 18. You may be stoned, lashed, shot, beheaded, or have your hand cut off if you are just a thief.
From 1960 to 2022, the population of Somalia increased from 2.7 million to 17.60 million, an increase of 538.5% in 62 years.
The most common diseases in Somalia are diarrheal diseases including cholera, Tuberculosis, malaria, and measles. There are 0.02 doctors for 100,000 citizens. Tuberculosis is bacterial infection transmitted by spitting and breathing air out of your lungs. It takes months of antibiotic cocktails to cure. It has become resistant. There is a vaccine for it, but it is not commonly given. There are 1.5 billion carriers of TB in the world. It is more deadly than Covid, and yet it is swept under the rug. It is known as the White Death because you are pale due to lungs not working well and not oxygenating blood. It is a killer. Vitamin D helps your immune system prevent it from setting up housekeeping, but Somali women are some of the largest group of carriers in the world because they are covered head to toe and have poor sanitation. They also have a high rate of infant mortality and their lifespan averages in the mid - fifties.
Somalia is a dangerous country for females due to gender based violence and harassment. Unaccompanied women are considered fair game. The perpetrator is never at fault.
Somalis eat Halal food. Haram food is pork, blood products, gelatin, alcohol, and anything not butchered according to Halal practice. Halal butchers do not sever the spinal cord, so there can be no contamination of the meat with spinal fluid. It is more stringent than Kosher. This will necessitate Halal grocery stores in Eau Claire.
You can not make eye contact with Somali women without being considered rude. Never point an index finger at them. Do not expose the soles of your feet to them, or point your toes at them while sitting. Never eat, drink, or smoke in front of them during Ramadan. It is considered very rude. Do not touch someone of the opposite sex.
I ate in a restaurant in Bloomington, MN. I walked in to the smell of urine and swarms of Somali children running around. I stayed long enough for a coffee to check it out. The family tables were disgusting, full of stray food. The floors were littered with food. It was inconceivable. I felt sorry for the staff. I realized the urine smell was from the women because they could not control it due to their FGM.
So, I protest against having people brought in who will not assimilate. They live in their own housing complexes, paid for by the State or City. They have no desire to assimilate. Sharia law prevents it. Their religion allows deception and lying to the Infidels or Kaffirs. We are Infidels. They cannot swear allegiance to the Constitution because they can only swear allegiance to Islam and Sharia law. If they break away, they lose clan support completely and family is very important to Somalis. The women will abide by anything just to not be ostracized because they will suffer great persecution if they are not covered under their patriarchal society. There is no law but Sharia.
There are no birth or death records in Somalia due to Gov. ineptness. People are buried within 24 hours of death and the gov. does not need to be notified. They are wrapped in cloth and buried directly in the ground, but I digress.
Due to the lack of birthdates, birth certificates, nomadic status (except for larger cities), and the fact that many people carry the exact same name, fraud is easy to perpetrate. We got to the point where we took photos of patients to identify them as they loved getting acupuncture treatment (with a kickback from their driver and translator) paid for by the State of Minnesota. Translators were provided by the state, but often did not show or were late and missed most of the intake of the patient. They still demanded payment and would do anything to get you to sign their worksheet. We had strict instructions not to do so. However, it was too late for my boss. She was later arrested for overcharging Minnesota one million dollars for insurance fraud. One million dollars. The fraud was rampant all over. It made me sick and quit the job as I could see how the system was so easily deluded. You may think that my boss being arrested was the only situation. We also got Somalis from the Fairibault turkey farms because then they could get more treatments and more kickbacks. I am not sure of all the kickback particulars, or how much they made, but it must have been lucrative enough for them to do it.
Also, Somalis are nomadic, following herds wherever. There is not the same sense of property rights that we have. They always take the shortest route possible. If that means through your yard, next to the back door, so be it.
I learned enough about Somali culture working with them for one year and seeing them in the Cities for the three years I went there for Acupuncture school, to last me a lifetime and also realize they would never be good neighbors, nor do they have any desire to do so. They must remain a closed community to abide by Sharia and Islamic law and retain rights within their clan.”
From Bonnie Christensen
11/16/23
This ends the document.
Notes and Bonus Items
*Change “hundreds” to thousands.
WireService.ca Media Release
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
“The number of Somalia living in St. Cloud, MN, is growing. There is no official number of how many Somalis are living in the city now, but the unofficial estimate could be as high as 25,000 Somalis living in St. Cloud and the surrounding cities, like Waite Park, St. Joseph, Sartell and Sauk Rapids.
First Somalis moved to St Cloud in 2000, but about 50 percent of Somalis moved to the city in the recent years, from 2009 t0 2013.”
**There is dispute about this statement. I would like to find a source on it. I include it here to be true to the original sent document.
Bonus articles:
UK Somali teenagers taken 'on holiday' and forced into marriage - What the heck?!
Why the Intentional Non-assimilation of Muslim Refugees? By Karen Mueller, Amos Center for Justice, Every Life Matters Educational Center