Madison, WI – Dane County Board telling County Executive Joe Parisi to “offer consent to initial refugee resettlement” to comply with Presidential Executive Order.Maybe this won’t matter for long with the impeachment vote today, but the County Board Executive Committee and the full County Board is going to be voting on this resolution tomorrow night.
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING ACTIVE CONSENT TO RECEIVE REFUGEES IN DANE COUNTY PER EXECUTIVE ORDER 13888 – ENHANCING STATE AND LOCAL INVOLVEMENT IN RESETTLEMENT
On September 26, 2019, the White House issued the Executive Order on Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Refugee Resettlement (EO). This EO significantly changes the United States Refugee Admissions Program in terms of the placement of refugees. The EO requires that both state and local government must actively consent to receive refugees in order for refugees to resettle in localities and it mandates that consent to refugee placement must be in writing. Letters from local government must be in place for every locality that resettles refugees, and lack of consent or response will equate to negative consent.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dane County Board of Supervisors supports refugee resettlement in Dane County and authorizes the County Executive to send a letter to the U.S. Department of State expressing Dane County’s continued desire to welcome persons seeking refugee status.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Executive will offer consent to initial refugee resettlement in Dane County as per the terms of Executive Order 13888.
WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS
Well, first of all, seems like a no-brainer given Dane Counties values, I’m sure it will fly through the committee and county board without comment. Especially given all the sponsors it has (31 of 37 board members): CORRIGAN, KUHN, AUDET, BAYRD, BOLLIG, BUCKINGHAM, CHAWLA, CHENOWETH, DeGARMO, DOYLE, EICHER, ERICKSON, JONES, KIEFER, KILMER, KNOLL, KRAUSE, LEVIN, McCARVILLE, NELSON, NGUYEN-HILFIGER, PETERS, RATCLIFF, RIPP, RITT, RUSK, SALOV, STUBBS, VELDRAN, WEGLEITNER and YOUNG
What is interesting about this is that that Joe Parisi usually balks at any hint of the county board telling him or the staff what to do, because he is the executive and the legislative branch doesn’t have the power to tell him what to do. I presume they have his blessing on this? Or would he veto it on process alone? I doubt it, the optics wouldn’t play well.
GOVERNOR EVERS FOR WISCONSIN
| Gov. Evers: Wisconsin Welcomes Refugees |
| MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of State notifying the federal government of Wisconsin’s intent to continue supporting refugee resettlement in the state. This announcement follows an executive order issued by President Trump requiring states and localities provide written consent for refugee resettlement.
“In Wisconsin, we believe in kindness, respect, empathy, and compassion—those are our Wisconsin values. Time and time again, I have watched Wisconsinites roll up their sleeves and help each other, rising to the call of our neighbors in their time of need,” said Gov. Evers. “As we face that call today, I am disappointed by the Trump Administration’s overly cumbersome and inappropriate process for those involved in resettlement, but the state of Wisconsin will continue to proudly welcome those seeking refuge into our communities and our state.” Gov. Evers’ letter can be found here. |
