RELEASE: TN House State Committee Advances Anti-Refugee Resolution
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2020
TN House State Committee Advances Anti-Refugee Resolution
Resolution advances after committee limits discussion
NASHVILLE - Today, the State Government Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly House of Representatives advanced HJR0741 (Weaver), a resolution to condemn Governor Lee's decision to continue refugee resettlement and to challenge his authority to do so.
The committee leadership and Representative Weaver went to great lengths to try to limit discussion, insisting the resolution is strictly a matter of clarifying constitutional duties and that discussions about the refugee resettlement program were irrelevant. Despite having many questions about the resettlement program, they stopped a former refugee, Faiza Rashid from testifying and sharing her experience.
The following is a statement from Judith Clerjeune, Policy and Legislative Affairs Manager at TIRRC Votes:
“Why are committee members and the sponsor so afraid to admit they don’t want refugees to be resettled in our state? They are bending over backwards to prevent any discussion on the life-saving work of refugee resettlement. It is clear that their arguments against refugee resettlement are not rooted in fact and have been discredited by the courts so they’d prefer not to discuss the program. Perhaps members of the legislature have realized that refugees enjoy broad bipartisan support in Tennessee and that ending resettlement or telling refugees they are unwelcome and unvalued is immoral and unpopular. But the true intent and the impact of resolutions like this are clear to voters.
Representative Weaver’s resolution does nothing to alter or strengthen the resettlement program, instead it increases skepticism about refugees and re-hashes arguments that have already been settled by the courts and by the General Assembly. There are many things legislators could do to support refugees and invest in the success of all families who call Tennessee home. This resolution accomplishes nothing except to spread misinformation, divide our communities, and make families like Faiza’s feel like their contributions aren’t valued.”
The following is a statement from Faiza Rashid:
“The refugee resettlement program reflects the strongest values of this country. The program saved my life and the support I received when I was resettled allowed my family and I to put down roots and to fully contribute and participate in our new home. I am grateful for the people of this country and this state for welcoming me.
But, this resolution and other legislation that is being considered suggest that refugees take away from this country or this state. These types of efforts make refugees like me feel unwelcome and unvalued. Every day I work hard for this country and my community. I urge legislators to take the time to learn more about the life-saving resettlement program and the many contributions of refugees to our community.”
Background:
In September 2019, President Trump issued an executive order, requiring governors and county executives where refugees are resettled to opt-in to continuing refugee resettlement in their communities. In December, Governor Lee provided consent for refugee resettlement in Tennessee. In all, more than 40 governors, including 19 Republicans, and hundreds of counties across the country granted consent. A temporary nationwide injunction on the EO was placed EO 1388 on January 15, 2020 by Judge Peter J. Messitte of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
While the 2020 legislative session is focused on undermining the Governor's consent, efforts to erode support for refugees have long been tactics used by a fringe group of far right extremists.
In 2011, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the Refugee Absorptive Capacity Act, which required the Tennessee Office for Refugees to provide quarterly reports to state and local governments about resettlement. In 2013, Tennessee General Assembly commissions a report by the state fiscal review committee on the “federal cost-shifting” to the state which found that refugees were a net economic gain for the state. While the state had expended approximately $753 million on refugees and their descendants, it was estimated that the state had earned at least $1.386 billion during the same period from refugees and their descendants.
In 2016, Representative Weaver was the House sponsor of the resolution that initiated Tennessee v. United States - a lawsuit that challenged the federal government’s authority to resettle refugees.
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