The more information which comes out regarding the Refugee Settlement planned for Spartanburg County,
the more calls and emails I receive about this, with the vast minority being those who support this.
I just wanted to supply you with an update on this situation.

This project has apparently been in the works for quite some time with seemingly little-to-no-one in the community outside those with direct involvement having any real knowledge this was happening. This alone is enough to make most people question the credibility of this program. A lady by the name of Ann Corcoran has been diligent in her efforts to uncover information about refugee settlement camps all across the country including ours, and a constituent brought this to my attention. You can visit Ann’s website (https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com)and here is video of Ms. Corcoran on Fox News:

This same exact program in Minnesota has had a wide variety of issues. The frequency of importing Somalin refugees has increased and the local school system is burdened with teaching in both English and Somalia as well as handling the increased student population. There are other issues as well, but perhaps the worst is that there have been incidents of refugees joining ISIS.

For those who may have missed it, Trey Gowdy sent a rather pointed letter to John Kerry regarding this matter and you can click here for more information on that.

We’ve asked Governor Haley, who has the authority, to please put a stop to this. She has replied with a letter that basically justifies the program and simply calls for more transparency in regards to the screening process used by the State Department. You can see a copy of the Governor’s letter here.

We also have asked Governor Haley’s cabinet agency, the Department of Social Services, to verify how it is complying with federal law to ensure that the community is involved and, in particular, the medical providers that are engaged in the screening process actually are doing what they are supposed to do. I will inform you of the responses when I receive them.

The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported on Governor Haley’s letter, so I responded with one of my own and you can read about that by going here.

And, to provide all sides, you can get the side from those involved in making this happen (with our tax dollars) by going here.

We are going to do what we can to stay on top of this, but short of getting our Governor to step in, I fear we have no other real options, or authority to put a stop to this or even place it on hold.