OPINION: Refugees in America: Laying out the argument why the risks outweigh the rewards

In consideration of all the events that are unfolding in our country and around the world, I believe it is time once again to reconsider refugee resettlement in our state and our local communities.

Refugees, in general, will place our personal security at risk, create taxpayer funded expenses we cannot afford, introduce health and medical issues we are unprepared to address, and will not assimilate to our values and culture but will instead create their own subculture within our society.

It appears that those who support refugee resettlement ignore facts and evaluate this issue through an emotional litmus test placing our entire way of life in America at risk.

There are very real safety issues associated with allowing refugees to settle into our local communities. Recent cases in our country are documented below:

—Case 1: Young girl in Idaho allegedly raped and attacked by refugee boys in her apartment complex: http://www.wnd.com/2016/07/mom-of-idaho-rape-victim-were-being-treated-as-criminals/

—Case 2: Emad Hasso, 22, of Syria, allegedly touched a teenage girl inappropriately at the state-run Raymond Lord Memorial Pool in Lowell, Massachusetts: http://www.wnd.com/2016/07/city-rips-secret-planting-of-syrian-refugees/#

—Case 3: Minneapolis woman allegedly threatened with rape by refugees: http://www.wnd.com/2016/07/woman-gives-chilling-1st-hand-account-of-muslim-rape-threat/

Are women willing to risk the rape and assault of their children? Are husbands willing to place their wives at risk for sexual assault and attack all in the name of being welcoming and accepting of refugees and their cultures?

Various financial studies have shown the actual costs of refugee resettlement into our communities. These cost studies do not include the costs incurred by various law enforcement and judicial systems addressing crimes committed by refugees. See the report and article from the Center for Immigration Studies: http://cis.org/High-Cost-of-Resettling-Middle-Eastern-Refugees

Beyond the documented costs to support refugees living in our country, it is now shown and documented that large sums of taxpayer funds are being sent out of our country to the refugees’ countries of origin to support jihad:  http://www.king5.com/news/local/investigations/suitcases-full-of-cash-leaving-sea-tac-airport/199976318

With our ever-increasing national debt and ongoing growth of government funded programs, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the initial and ongoing costs of resettled refugees in our communities. Our country is currently unable to appropriately fund veterans programs or provide effective safety nets for American citizens. Why are we considering adding even more financial burden to the American taxpayer?

In regard to health concerns associated with refugee resettlement, data from the Vermont Department of Health show that more than one-third of refugees resettled in Vermont test positive for tuberculosis.

Since 2013, about 900 refugees admitted to the Green Mountain State have been tested for tuberculosis, a potentially fatal infectious disease affecting the lungs. Of that number, 318 refugees, or 35.4 percent, tested positive: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/06/05/tuberculosis-35-vermont-migrants/

A report regarding the incidence of active TB cases in Minnesota for the years 2010-2014 states the most distinguishing characteristic of the epidemiology of TB disease in Minnesota is the very high percentage of cases that occur among persons born outside the United States.

During the past decade, the percentage of foreign-born persons among TB cases reported in Minnesota has averaged 81 percent, ranging from 73 percent in 2008 and 2014 to 87 percent in 2005. The average foreign-born percentage during this time period among cases nationally was 61 percent. In 2014, 73 percent of TB cases in Minnesota were born outside the U.S., compared to 66 percent of TB cases reported nationally. See reference to the report: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/tb/stats/tbepislidesnotes.pdf

Overseas refugees are spreading horrific diseases as discussed in the article below. Do we want the spread of these diseases and plagues in our country? http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/05/31/syrian-refugees-spreading-flesh-eating-disease-polio-measles-tuberculosis-hepatitis/

America had worked tirelessly to eradicate diseases of this sort from our nation. Is it sensible or responsible to welcome and invite refugees who carry these medical conditions into our communities?

An additional issue that should be of significant concern to all Americans is whether or not refugees actually assimilate and integrate into American culture and adopt its institutions, laws and societal standards. America is unique among all nations as people from various lands and traditions came together to form one nation founded upon freedom and liberty. It operates under the rule of law – the Constitution of the United States.

In years past, people have immigrated to America from all over the world. Those immigrants appropriately assimilated into American culture and adopted its societal and cultural norms. The current wave of refugees from around the world have settled in our nation, yet have not properly assimilated to our society, nor have they accepted our country’s rule of law or institutions. They have isolated themselves into independent communities and attempt to establish cultural standards inconsistent with American traditions. These refugee communities have endeavored on several occasions to leverage sharia law as their legal system.

The document “Shariah in American Courts” identifies a total of 146 cases involving sharia from 32 different state and federal courts. Please review the document for additional information. http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Shariah_in_American_Courts1.pdf

Article 6, Clause 2, of the U.S. Constitution (the Supremacy Clause) states, “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby; any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary not withstanding.” Sharia law is in direct conflict with the U.S. Constitution and as such cannot be considered within our legal system.

Is it possible for refugees from other nations who desire to live under sharia law to assimilate into our nation, adopt our traditions and operate under our constitutional rule of law?

While I believe I have set forth a compelling set of information and materials supporting my opposition to refugee resettlement, I still believe there are naive altruists who genuinely believe resettling refugees into our communities is a noble idea. Respectfully, I wholeheartedly disagree. We do not live in a humanitarian utopia where we can take in and care for refugees from all around the world.

There are serious, documented issues related to security, finances, health conditions and refugee unwillingness to conform to American law and cultural institutions. At this uncertain time in world affairs, we cannot gamble with our national security and stability, nor should we place an additional financial burden on the American taxpayer by allowing ongoing refugee resettlement in our country.

America is our home — the refugees who will not assimilate do not belong here. Nations that share common values with the refugees and possess the necessary financial resources should be called upon to take them into their countries — nations like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.

I expect those who disagree with my position to start name calling and express their responses in emotion driven communiques as has become their standard mode of operation. Name calling is unproductive, and emotions are fickle. I would prefer instead that those who disagree take the opportunity to present real and verifiable facts so as to initiate an analytical and educated discourse regarding this very important matter for both our state and our nation.

Janet Walters is a resident of Lakeside.