← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Blond Knight
Thread ID: 13883 | Posts: 10 | Started: 2004-05-26
2004-05-26 02:08 | User Profile
As if wasting your tax dollars on Somali"s wasn't good enough.................
[url]http://www.kstp.com/article/view/144616/[/url]
Estimate of Hmong influx to Minnesota triples Updated: 05-20-2004 11:31:25 AM
ST. PAUL (AP) - The estimated number of Hmong refugees from Thailand bound for Minnesota has tripled to about 5,000 by year's end, a U.S. State Department official said.
The new estimate would be more than triple the January estimate of about 1,600 refugees, based on patterns from past resettlement programs. This time, interest in resettlement in Minnesota is much greater, and the approval rate for those applying to resettle has been high.
A third of those interviewed through Monday - 2,489 of 7,983 refugees - have expressed interest in resettling in Minnesota based on family ties here, Yvonne Thayer, a senior adviser in the State Department said Wednesday.
"That's been consistent through the prescreening," Thayer said of the level of interest in Minnesota. "Of course, that could change. But if it doesn't, Minnesota could be seeing as many as 5,000 refugees coming here."
About 15,550 refugees at the Wat Tham Krabok camp north of Bangkok are eligible for resettlement in the United States and are expected to begin arriving in late June or early July.
Thayer spoke during a forum on the resettlement at Concordia University attended by 75 people, mostly officials of state, local and nonprofit agencies that assist refugees.
The number of refugees coming to Minnesota could equal those going to California, the desired destination of a third of the refugees interviewed so far, Thayer said. About 1,600 want to go to Wisconsin, while smaller numbers have indicated they would go to North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan, Oregon and Washington state.
Interviews with the remaining refugees, living in a crowded shantytown on the grounds of the Wat Tham Krabok temple should be done the week of June 21. Refugees also are undergoing medical exams and security checks and will take part in a weeklong cultural orientation program that begins next month.
Officials have booked 6,122 seats for refugees to travel to the United States, Thayer said. The first several hundred should reach the United States in late June. An estimated 1,000 to 1,200 will come in July, with 2,000 each in September and August and 3,000 a month through the end of the year. The goal of both U.S. and Thai officials is to have all the refugees out of camp by the end of December so it can close.
Officials decided last week to have every refugee vaccinated against a battery of infectious diseases, Thayer said. Medical records are incomplete and basic medical care has been spotty, and an outbreak of 17 cases of chickenpox, mostly among children, in the past five or six weeks raised concerns. Officials hope to complete the vaccinations by the beginning of June. The shots will cost $365,000.
"This is very unusual and it's very costly, but it's being done to ensure that we don't have any epidemic that might slow down the movement of this population," Thayer said. "This is something we can contribute to the receiving host community. It's one less concern when registering children for school.
Comments, questions or suggestions? Contact Us é2004 KSTP-TV, LLC
2004-05-29 09:13 | User Profile
What the hell is a Hmong anyway? Sounds like a disease. And like any disease, it needs to be eradicated.
2004-06-25 03:24 | User Profile
startribune.com
Last update: June 24, 2004 at 12:10 AM
More aid for Hmong arrivals
Libby George
Star Tribune
Published June 24, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The federal government will provide an additional $3.3 million this year to help settle Hmong refugees in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said Wednesday.
Department officials said the money is a "safety valve" that will ease the burden on state and local governments, but members of Minnesota's congressional delegation said they will continue to push for more money.
The extra money is available through Sept. 30 to ethnic groups and refugees in the three states, which must compete for the money to pay for job and language training and other such resettlement costs.
St. Paul is expected to receive about 5,000 of the 15,000 Hmong refugees from Wat Tham Krabok, the camp in Thailand that is closing. The first of those immigrants arrived in the Twin Cities on Monday.
Earlier this year, Minnesota Sens. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, and Norm Coleman, a Republican, joined several other senators in requesting an additional $10 million in fiscal year 2005 appropriations to resettle Hmong refugees.
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum submitted the same request in the House. More than $19 million in federal funding was already available to the three states to resettle refugees, but Coleman, McCollum and Dayton said an increase of $3.3 million is not enough.
"This is really just a down payment on what has to be done for the federal government to fulfill its obligation," Coleman said.
Dayton said that while the $3.3 million increase was "important initial financial assistance ... it does not obviate the need for the $10 million."
McCollum spokesman Josh Straka said McCollum will continue to pressure Thompson to support the appropriation.
The influx from Wat Tham Krabok has raised some concern in Minnesota about the state's ability to resettle the refugees, particularly in light of a housing crunch, teacher layoffs and a tight job market in St. Paul, which has the highest Hmong concentration of any U.S. city.
However, state Sen. Mee Moua, DFL-St. Paul, said she was optimistic that the money would be adequate to allay concerns in the community.
"The federal government made a conscious decision to invite this new refugee group to resettle in this country," Moua said. "I'm pleased to hear it is following through and this will not be yet another unfunded mandate."
Moua, the first Hmong-American elected to statewide office in the country, has relatives who will arrive from Wat Tham Krabok this year.
Patti Hurd, director of refugee services for Lutheran Social Services in Minneapolis, said social service organizations in Minnesota will need more money to help the refugees but that every bit helps.
"It's a pleasant surprise," Hurd said. "We've learned never to expect money in the hard time we're in."
Regardless of what happens in Congress, Wade F. Horn, Health and Human Services assistant secretary for children and families, said that in October the department will make even more money available to resettle the Hmong population. "We're not satisfied with sitting around and waiting for Congress to appropriate money," Horn said.
Hmong refugees began arriving in the United States in the 1970s after they were promised refuge for helping U.S. forces fight in Laos during the Vietnam War. Since then, thousands have settled in Minnesota, which has one of the largest Hmong populations in the country.
Staff Writer Curt Brown contributed to this report.
Libby George is at [email]lgeorge@mcclatchydc.com[/email].
é Copyright 2004 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
And this heartwarming article from the fertilizer spreader across the Mississippi:
Posted on Thu, Jun. 24, 2004
[url]http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/special_packages/hmong_journey/8996742.htm[/url]
Feds promising more refugee aid But state's lawmakers say that won't suffice BY TODD NELSON Pioneer Press
Minnesota lawmakers are questioning whether Wednesday's announcement that the federal government will make millions of extra dollars available for Hmong resettlement would be enough to offset the costs.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced an additional $3.3 million had been reserved to assist Hmong resettlement in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California, the states expected to receive most of the 15,500 refugees arriving by year's end from a camp in Thailand.
The money is on top of more than $20 million previously earmarked for resettling refugees in the three states. Relatives in St. Paul and California welcomed the first of the refugees Monday.
"The Department of Health and Human Services will be active in helping Minnesota and other states resettle the refugees as smoothly as possible," Thompson said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum will continue to push for the $10 million in additional aid from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement she proposed in April, drawing support from Sens. Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton.
"The communities that are going to be impacted here are going to need this and they're going to need it now," Josh Straka, McCollum's spokesman, said of the $10 million request. "(Thompson's) support would guarantee the communities receive additional needed funds."
"I have communicated directly to the secretary, as well as with my colleagues, that far more resources need to be forthcoming to address this critical issue," Coleman said. "Local officials need to be aware that this isn't the end of the support of the federal government. This is really just a down payment on what has to be done for the federal government to fulfill its obligation to local communities who are assisting in the relocation of thousands of Hmong refugees."
The $3.3 million will aid in the resettlement of 5,000 Hmong expected to reach this country by the end of September, said Wade F. Horn, the department's assistant secretary for children and families. The states will start to receive the money from the reserve within 30 days, after the department reviews requests.
Overall, the department is providing $4.2 million to help schools in Minnesota and the other states accommodate Hmong and other refugee students and $12.8 million in social services grants. The states also will receive full reimbursement for cash and medical assistance to singles and childless couples during their first eight months here. The total will not be known until after the states request payments for those expenses. Officials already are discussing ways to come up with additional reserve money to help resettle remaining refugees through the end of the year, Horn said.
The $3.3 million would go to Hmong-operated community assistance organizations that provide long-term services to refugees, including language classes, job training and assistance in finding housing. Resettlement agencies typically provide assistance for the first three months after a refugee arrives.
Ying Vang, executive director of Lao Family Community of Minnesota, said any additional money would help. He said he anticipated the agency would have to expand survival skills classes for refugees, which include mental health services for those who have suffered depression or other emotional difficulties during their years in the squalid camp.
"The resources we have today are enough only to serve the people who are already in our community," Ying Vang said. "We will need to have additional money; otherwise, we spread ourselves too thin and we won't be able to get things done."
Another assistance agency, Hmong American Partnership, will consider adding services to meet education and social needs for youths from the camp, said Adam Buhr, director of development.
"Hmong American Partnership, along with many other strong Hmong organizations, is doing everything possible to prepare for the new refugees, and these additional funds are critical," Buhr said.
"This is great," said Ilean Her, executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans. "We know that after the initial three months are up ââ¬Â¦ it's going to be up to Lao Family and HAP to work with them long-term to make sure they know English, get the job and can stay on the job."
REFUGEE AID
About $23 million in federal money is available for all refugees in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California, including Hmong resettled from Thailand.
ââ¬Â¢ $12.8 million for social services
ââ¬Â¢ $4.2 million for schools to offset costs
ââ¬Â¢ $3.3 million for Hmong community groups
ââ¬Â¢ $2 million additional assistance
ââ¬Â¢ $690,000 for health and medical screening
Tim Nelson and Tom Webb contributed to this report. Todd Nelson can be reached at [email]toddnelson@pioneerpress.com[/email] or 651-228-5575.
é 2004 St. Paul Pioneer Press and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. [url]http://www.twincities.com[/url]
2004-06-25 03:37 | User Profile
Posted on Wed, Jun. 16, 2004
[url]http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/special_packages/hmong_journey/8931756.htm[/url]
Officials price cost of U.S. resettlement Feds offer $10 million; local share far smaller BY TIM NELSON Pioneer Press
It may cost well upwards of $10 million to accommodate the thousands of Hmong refugees expected to arrive soon from Thailand, but the costs to local taxpayers aren't expected to be great.
That's what the Ramsey County Board heard Tuesday during discussion of federal funding for the influx of Hmong being forced out of the temple at Wat Tham Krabok, a refugee center outside Bangkok.
The State Department last winter announced they would be welcomed in the United States, and local, state and federal officials have been scrambling to get ready for the immigrants, who are expected to start arriving in the United States this weekend.
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, later joined by Sens. Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton, proposed $10 million in federal Office of Refugee Resettlement funding in April, and the County Board went on record supporting that measure Tuesday.
The money would be distributed nationwide.
"We don't know that it's going to be enough," said Commissioner Jim McDonough of St. Paul, who traveled to Thailand in March to see for himself the needs of the refugees. Commissioners noted the potential need and also said the money should be distributed consistent with the number of refugees who resettle in a particular area.
That assistance could take the form of job training, health care and a variety of other services, other than outright cash grants. The immigrants will be eligible for welfare benefits, however.
In terms of local expense, the county's most immediate financial impact is expected to be public health costs for new arrivals, to cover such things as health screenings and recording immunization information.
Public Health Director Rob Fulton said he expected his department would need to take $300,000 to $400,000 from existing reserve funds to serve the refugees. It's a negligible sum, compared with the county's nearly $200 million tax levy.
Human Services Director Monty Martin said Tuesday that the county will likely have to hire additional interpreters and caseworkers, but that there may be state and federal funds to help with that.
"We have never been able to calculate a bottom-line figure," Martin said Tuesday. "But we have not had to put substantial new money in so far."
Tim Nelson can be reached at [email]tnelson@pioneerpress.com[/email] or 651-292-1159.
é 2004 St. Paul Pioneer Press and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. [url]http://www.twincities.com[/url]
2004-06-25 16:53 | User Profile
Sooner or later this kind of crap is gonna break the piggy bank. when sally sue and joe snuffy in suburbia are asked to pay more taxes so the gvt can take care of more immigrants...well, maybe then somehting will happen. Until then, the herd keeps chewing its cud and shouting for GW Kerry (or John Bush) which ever, doesnt matter as they are one and the same.
2004-06-26 01:24 | User Profile
Josey;
I agree, and also wonder what it will take to wake up Boobus Americanus. Although I take no pleasure in it, I feel duty bound to point out to the retiree's I come across that Immigrants from every third world cesspool are collecting Social Security and disability payments courtesy of the FedGov.
They don't like the suggestion that they may have to go back to work to support more turd world immigrants. :wallbash:
2004-06-27 04:23 | User Profile
It seems most of the [url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1143082/posts]fweepers[/url] think the Hmong are awesome, dude. You see, apparently these Hmong things helped us during that pointless little war called Vietnam, in which 50,000 -- mostly White -- Americans died, and countless more were wounded (Whites should never fight for non-Whites, they should only fight against them). So now we owe them. I guess they expect Uncle Sucker to take care of these ... creatures for ever and ever amen.
It's a damn shame so many White Americans bought into the whole "communist menace" hoax. What a waste. I say, forget the commies; someone please save The Race from the [url=http://forums.originaldissent.com/showthread.php?t=6777]capitalists[/url]!
communism doesn't matter.
capitalism doesn't matter.
Democrat ... Republican ... liberal ... conservative ... do not matter.
only Race matters!
2004-07-06 02:43 | User Profile
Check out the links in the article posted @ American Rennisance
[url]http://www.amren.com/news/news04/07/02/hmongcosts.html[/url]
$7.5 Million Sought To Help Hmong
Background from the Archives
On the Hmong:
Documenting the Decline: What's Happening to California (Jan. 2000)
Asian Influx (Jul. 1996)
Assimilating Badly (Oct. 1998)
Cambodian Men Fall Prey to Gang Violence
New Wave of Hmong Immigrants Prepares to Follow Trailblazers to Minnesota (Feb. 26 news)
One Wife Rule Halts Hmong Immigration (Mar. 2 news)
Low-Profile Language Perplexes ATM Users (May 5 news)
Police Officer Accused Of Carrying Out Drive-By Shootings (May 12 news)
Judge Wonââ¬â¢t Throw Out Bomb-Related Charges (May 25 news)
Hmong Community: Task Force Working To Curb Prostitution (Jun. 1 news)
Terry Fiedler, Star Tribune (MN), Jul. 1
Hennepin County will need about $7.5 million in the next year to support new Hmong refugees, according to a report by the countyââ¬â¢s Human Services Department that was recently submitted to the County Board.
Minnesota is expecting to receive about 5,000 Hmong refugees from the Wat Tham Krabok camp in Thailand who are coming to join relatives already living here. The first members of the group began to arrive last week.
About 60 percent of the new arrivals are expected to settle in Ramsey County, with about one-third coming to Hennepin County.
Ramsey County has not made an estimate of its first-year support costs for resettling the refugees.
The federal government said last week it would provide an additional $3.3 million this year to help settle Hmong refugees in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California, beyond the $19 million it already committed.
Health and Human Service Department officials said the money is a ââ¬Åsafety valveââ¬Â that will ease the burden on state and local governments, but members of Minnesotaââ¬â¢s congressional delegation said they will continue to push for more money.
Hennepin County Commissioner Randy Johnson said he is ââ¬Åhopefulââ¬Â that the federal government will provide all of the funds to account for the county costs, although he added that the county is making contingency plans.
ââ¬ÅIf itââ¬â¢s up to the federal government to make immigration decisions, it ought to be the federal governmentââ¬â¢s responsibility to provide for these refugees,ââ¬Â Johnson said.
County officials say immigration has strained their budgets for years because the federal government often doesnââ¬â¢t provide enough money to take care of the many needs of new residents.
Johnson added that Hennepin Countyââ¬â¢s experience with immigrant groups is that the number of refugees who ultimately settle here is usually much larger than the initial group because of secondary migrations from other areas of the country.
Vinodh Kutty, coordinator of multi-cultural services for Hennepin County, said that even as bipartisan efforts are under way to lobby for more federal money, ââ¬ÅRamsey and Hennepin counties have the infrastructure to deal with the refugees.ââ¬Â
According to the report, the refugees as a group are expected to be youngââ¬â20 percent infants or preschoolers, 40 percent school-age children and 40 percent working-age adults. Only a third of the adults have a formal education. About half of the children have attended school.
The county estimated that about 30 percent of the families will need subsidized day care while they attend language training school or work and that the public will spend $1.2 million for child care during the first year in Hennepin County.
Minneapolis schools expect 700 new Hmong students, and although the state and federal government will cover most of the $2.5 million in annual costs, local costs will be about $500,000, the report said.
County costs for adult English language education are estimated to be $2.25 million.
Other estimated first-year county costs include $600,000 for job training, $165,000 for mental health screening, $80,000 for socialization programs, $120,000 for outreach and mental health treatment, and $137,000 for emergency shelter services.
The report also said that an ââ¬Åoutpouringââ¬Â of volunteer contributions has helped to keep the countyââ¬â¢s costs down. Human Services estimated that local costs would be another $20 million or more if not for the volunteer services.
2004-07-06 04:41 | User Profile
Five point five millions to help these people and is the end of the world, at least that money is staying in the USA.
Why don't you guys talk about the 6 BILLIONS dollars that we give away every year to the Zionist State of Israel?
We already given 126 BILLIONS dollars to those monkeys and every year we "forgive" the loan,,,,,,,,,hahahahaha you guys are funny.
2004-07-12 03:06 | User Profile
What are you babbling about, mestizo? The "6 BILLIONS dollars" should be spent on the poor Whites (who are the descendents of the founders of this Nation) of Appalachia, not some Asian filth -- or Israeli filth, for that matter.