The Harm inflicted by Idaho’s Decrease in Refugee Resettlement: Ancillary 7

Because of Trump’s ‘America First’ political agenda and targeting of refugees, the number of refugees admitted to the United States dropped by 86 percent from 2016 to 2020 (U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Refugee Processing Center, “Summary of Refugee Admissions as of September 30, 2020). These historically low rates have trickled down to the state level, and has cut the number of refugees admitted yearly into Idaho by half. Back in 2017, Idaho Governor Butch Otter (R) demanded “a halt to ‘rubber-stamped’ immigration-refugee programs” (Half the World: Refugees Transform the City of Trees) and echoed Trump’s distrust of new arrivals. Former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter (D), however, responded by rejecting such anti-refugee/ immigrant sentiments and touting Boise’s inclusionary policies and welcoming attitude. Trump passed Executive Order 13888 (said to undermine the 1980 Refugee Act- NBC News) on September 26, 2019 which left the discretion of whether/ how many refugees are admitted up to state and local governments. In 2019, one new (still Republican) governor later, Brad Little (under Ex. Order 13888) had passed that refugee resettlement in Idaho would continue. This has all been stalled by the pandemic, however, and in 2020 Trump halted the Refugee Processing center entirely (Rebuilding the U.S. Refugee Program for the 21st Century) and has restricted asylum seekers. These rulings come at a cost to families who have been displaced, separated, and kept apart in their struggles to safety in the US. Refugees enrich Boise economically, culturally, and culinarily- and it is a shame that the number of refugees welcomed have plummeted over the past years. Many Boise cars bare “Refugees Welcome” bumper stickers, inclusive yard signs are abundant as are refugee owned restaurants and grocery stores. A majority of Idahoans still believe that Refugees hurt our economy by taking our rightful jobs and menace our communities, but this is not true. Refugees contribute much to the work force and work extremely hard (many nights a week), making them deserving of their well-earned opportunities. I believe many Idahoans are indifferent to the matter of low Refugee rates, but these impacted communities, resettlement nonprofits, and their advocates (like me) certainly are not. Refugee life is integral to Boise life, and if we want to bolster Boise life we must invest in the lives of displaced persons globally. I propose that Idaho make good of our inclusive reputation by accepting more refugees and advocating for their lives.