NEWS

Brown applauds White House action on refugees

Gordon Friedman
Statesman Journal

Gov. Kate Brown applauded actions announced by the White House on Monday to provide all governors with more information about refugees entering their states.

"There's a heightened level of concern among the nation's governors" about refugee resettlement in the United States, Brown's office said.

The White House sent new refugee information to all 50 governors, and a chart explaining how refugees are vetted before entry to the U.S. Governors can now regularly receive data on Syrian refugees, such as their nationality, age, race and sex, but not their names.

"Gov. Brown appreciates the White House’s responsiveness in providing a thorough explanation of the vetting process and working to address concerns governors have expressed," Kristen Grainger, Brown's chief press secretary, said Monday.

The White House also announced an overhaul of the visa waiver program, which allows visitors from certain countries to enter the U.S. without prior approval. Now, people who have previously traveled to countries known to promote terrorism will face screening before being granted entry to the U.S.

Afghan refugees walk on a beach after their arrival from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. The International Organization for Migration said almost 900,000 people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have entered Europe this year seeking sanctuary or jobs. More than 600,000 have entered through Greece, many after making the short sea crossing from Turkey. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

In a letter sent Monday to Brown and other governors, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said the refugee vetting process is "extraordinarily thorough and comprehensive."


The White House held a conference call with all 50 governors on Nov. 17, and promised to share more information about refugees with their offices. Brown was not on that call, although Drew Johnston, her director of federal relations was, Grainger said.

The same day as the conference call, Brown said Oregon will "continue to open the doors of opportunity" to Syrian refugees. Only one Syrian refugee has been placed in Oregon since 2012. By contrast, 636 Iraqi refugees and 498 Somali refugees have resettled in Oregon in that same period, according to data from the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

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Republican presidential candidates have called for restricting Syrian refugee entry to the United States in the wake of the Paris attacks. Several candidates, including Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina and Sen. Ted Cruz expressed concern that terrorists could pose as refugees and gain entry into the United States. No acts of terrorism in the United States have been tied to refugees, although they have been tied to residents with visas and citizens, according to the New York Times.

A terrorist attempting to gain entry to the United States by posing as a refugee would face considerable hurdles.

"It is the most robust screening process for any any category of individuals seeking admission into the United States," McDonough said in his letter to Brown.

To enter the U.S. as a refugee, an asylum seeker must be awarded refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Fewer than one percent of people given refugee status are then referred by the U.N. to the United States for resettlement. After referral, refugees face screenings from federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Department of Defense. They also go through medical exams and cultural orientation classes and have their information checked against multiple federal databases of terrorists and dangerous people.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would require new, additional security checks of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

Democratic Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader voted in favor of the bill. Oregon Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici voted against it. Greg Walden, Oregon's only Republican representative, also voted for the bill. Rep. Peter DeFazio did not vote.

After resettlement, refugees are helped by regional non-governmental organizations. Representatives from the NGOs greet refugees at the airport, help them find safe and affordable housing and work, and provide them with food and clothing, among other services.

Oregon has three such organizations: Catholic Charities of Oregon, Lutheran Community Services and Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees.

Refugees settled in Oregon receive 90 days of income support from the Department of Human Services. They are then expected to find work on their own and apply for green cards.

gfriedman2@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6653, on Twitter @gordonrfriedman and Facebook.com/gordonrfriedman