Bill Regarding Refugee Placements Waiting Action From Governor Evers

Thursday, March 14th, 2024 -- 11:01 AM

(Joel Patenaude, Wisconsin Public Radio) A measure that would require local governments in Wisconsin to assess refugee placements is awaiting action from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers after passing the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature.

According to Joel Patenaude with Wisconsin Public Radio, the legislation stemmed from opposition to plans by the Christian humanitarian organization World Relief to resettle 75 refugees in the Eau Claire area this year.

Opponents said local elected officials were inadequately consulted before the plans gained steam. But in a recent interview with WPR’s “The Morning Show,” the organization’s vice president of advocacy and policy disputed those criticisms.

Matthew Soerens, an Eau Claire native, said World Relief had met with numerous stakeholders, including local church groups sharing the organization’s “desire to be faithful to biblical commands to welcome strangers, to practice hospitality and to love their neighbors.”

“In light of the greatest mass forced displacement crisis globally that we’ve seen in history, we were looking for new places where we could potentially resettle refugees,” Soerens said.

Earlier this year, the first family of refugees relocated to Eau Claire, he said. Legislation that would require local government involvement in refugee resettlement efforts passed the state Assembly 62-35 and the state Senate 22-10. Evers has until April 12 to take action on the legislation.

On “The Morning Show,” Soerens said World Relief has spent more than a decade resettling refugees in the Fox River Valley. Contrary to claims that refugees are a burden on local services, he said these immigrants prove over time to be productive taxpayers.

Soerens also expressed concern that the recently passed legislation would unnecessarily complicate the resettlement process.

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