BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—On Monday night, Berkeley County Council passed a resolution calling on all South Carolina public officials to immediately cease and desist from the placement of refugees anywhere within South Carolina until the state legislature convenes and passes legislation reflecting the will of the people.
“When the U.S. government feeds, clothes and shelters the 50,000 homeless veterans, then we should take in the needy of other countries,” stated Councilman Tommy Newell. “Our elementary schools are soft targets for any type of attack. I can’t take that chance of our babies being attacked by an outside group when we have nut jobs that are homegrown.”
Berkeley County makes the second county in ‘The Palmetto State’ to oppose the relocation of Syrian refugees—a measure many citizens appear to support.
“We have to take care of our own before we open the door to others,” stated James Morrell of Goose Creek who backs the recent decision by county council.
“Glad to see our local officials making a principled stand against federal intrusions that threaten our public safety. Proud of you and the rest of the Council and hope to see Dorchester follow your lead,” stated former Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash.
While many Berkeley County citizens support the resolution—some people who call the Lowcountry home oppose it.
“Shame on you all and Berkeley County. Your fear mongering is an embarrassment. You obviously don’t understand the reason our country was founded, the constitution, the Statue of Liberty, or compassion/humanity,” stated AJ Comstack who believes county leaders should be more welcoming to those seeking refuge from war. “If you have a problem with how veterans are treated, then change it. Fact is you choosing to not help others because others aren’t helped is about as childish and immature stance as you can have.”
Like Berkeley County, Pickens County Council passed a similar resolution in October. Greenville County Council will take up the matter later this month.
Meanwhile, York County groups, many representing churches, have organized in the Upstate to support the arrival of Syrian refugees to the area, The York Dispatch reports.
York County Councilman Bruce Henderson recently attempted to introduce a similar resolution to Berkeley County’s, however, it failed after no other councilman would second the motion.
“Everyone in this room knows from the images on TV that if we do nothing, we will have problems,” Henderson is quoted as saying in The Herald.
In September 2015, President Barack Obama announced that the United States would accept at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next fiscal year. He also said the U.S. would try to eliminate some bureaucratic hurdles toward entering the country.
Presently, an organization known as World Relief is working with churches to bring about 60 refugees to Upstate South Carolina this year.
“We stand for these displaced vulnerable by welcoming refugees to Greenville, Spartanburg, and across the Upstate of South Carolina,” reads a statement on their website.
According to the organization, their network of volunteers and partner churches serve to resettle refugees across the country through its 27 U.S. offices by helping them adjust to their new life in the United States, providing language skills, job training and spiritual support to our new community members.
“The American church is ready and willing to extend open arms to those fleeing war and terror in the Middle East. Whether it’s hosting refugees in our own country, or supporting churches serving them in other countries, the American church has chosen to act,” stated Stephan Bauman with World Relief.
According to World Relief, it believes that refugees present a “beautiful, missional opportunity for the church.” The organization seeks to equip churches to “think biblically about immigration and refugees to extend Christ-like hospitality” to all immigrant neighbors.
The organization is currently calling on President Obama to increase the nation’s refugee intake to 200,000—including 100,000 from Syria.
While the U.S. government continues to admit refugees, the annual intake, according to World Relief, has declined significantly from 1980, when the country accepted and, with the help of churches, schools, and community organizations, integrated more than 200,000 refugees. In the current fiscal year, the U.S. is on track to accept about 70,000 refugees.
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