Refugees not welcome here

The violence in the Middle East is thousands of miles from Oconee County’s front door.  But those who are being displaced from their countries are not likely to encounter a welcome mat in Oconee.  At its meeting tonight, there is to be first and final reading of a resolution to declare that the county will not take part in the refugee re-settlement program.  According to the resolution, prepared for the signature of Chairman Wayne McCall, “the issue of re-settlement of refugees from the Middle East and/or other illegal aliens is a matter of most urgent concern, as it involves issues of national security, terrorism, public health, and public safety, as well as the expenditure of public funding.”  It goes on further to request that all South Carolina public officials, as well as government and non-government entities, “immediately cease and desist from the placement of refuges anywhere within the state of South Carolina until the South Carolina Legislature convenes and passes legislation reflecting the will of the people of South Carolina by approving a state public policy on any and all refugee re-settlement related issues within the state of South Carolina.”  Among South Carolina national leaders weighing in are Senator Lindsey Graham, who said, “The one thing I’ve learned from Paris is that we need to have a timeour on bring refuguees into this country until we have a system that we think will work….”  And, in a statement from Washington, Congressman Jeff Duncan said, “…I call on President Obama to immediately halt the resettlement of any refugees from Syria and other countries with known radical Islamic terrorist cells, at least until ISIS has been defeated and an improved refugee vetting process has been established….”