A letter sent to the Biden administration from the Welcoming Refugees campaign is gaining attention in Alabama after a Fairhope City Councilman and two state representatives attached their names to it.
Fairhope City Councilman Corey Martin refused to defend his position on the matter. He, along with State Reps. Travis Hendrix (D-Fairfield) and Thomas Jackson (D-Thomasville) were named as "signees" to the letter asking for assistance to help resettle refugees. They claimed they had local support and had heard from others in their communities who were concerned.
Martin told 1819 News he would not provide a statement.
However, Jackson and Martin said they signed the letter in 2023. The Welcoming Refugees campaign just sent the letter to the Biden administration on September 12.
“I responded to the request after the war in Ukraine started,” Jackson told 1819 News. “A lot of people was displaced by the war. I really don't know what all the uproar is about. Maybe since the lies being told by some candidates running for President on the Republicans' ticket. These things shouldn't be, period!”
Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day reacted to Jackson’s signing of the letter. Day said he has been in contact with Jackson and while they don’t always agree, his biggest concern was hearing about the letter reported by 1819 News.
“[Jackson] and I have always pledged to communicate directly with each other on issues affecting our citizens and work to address the challenges we face together,” Day said in a statement to 1819 News. “… It is not for me to question the desire of the folks who signed the letter to the Biden Administration requesting funding to support safe harbor for refugees who are truly oppressed (as stated in a recent story on 1819 News); however, as a local leader of a small town who works tirelessly to meet the challenges of all of our citizens every day, I have serious concerns that I am just today hearing and reading of this effort for the first time in an 1819 News story.”
Jackson defended his position on a humanitarian basis.
“There was a time that this territory became the USA, everybody coming in was immigrants,” he continued. “The only True Americans are the Natives who were living on the land before the Europeans, and others arrived. We were once ‘strangers’ in the new land."
“The nation, as blessed as we have been, ought to welcome those people who have to leave their nation because of war and other violence and harassment, which has caused so much displacement," said Jackson. "Just wanting a better living environment, shouldn't be a problem when they are processed in by law.”
Jackson said helping the poor and less fortunate is a priority.
“What we actually need in this nation are elected officials to have the courage to stand up for righteousness,” Jackson stated in an email to 1819 News. “Show our humanity to those who are less fortunate, the poor, the children and elderly. We don't even want to help the poor here at home.”
“The scriptures tell us to do that,” he continued. “Bless is the nation who's God is the Lord. Righteousness exalted a nation, but sin is a reproach to its people. The only way we can show our love for God, is that we show our love for one another. "SHOWING EACH OTHER LOVE! LET US SHOW SOME 4REAL LOVE!"
Day said he understands God’s directive but he believes the nation’s immigration system is broken.
“It is without debate among my Republican and Democratic friends that our immigration system is broken,” he said. “In fact, the newest buzzword phrase illegal immigrants are instructed to use to gain access into our country through our southern and northern borders is ‘claim refugee status!'”
“In my opinion, the misuse of this status is currently poisoning the well for those who truly need refuge,” Day continued. “The uncontrolled flood of immigrants/refugees is placing unnecessary burdens on countless towns and cities across the U.S. Like most Americans, we long for a solution…..Not a Democrat or Republican one but, a bipartisan common sense, American Solution. And that bipartisan, common-sense solution should facilitate a thorough review of all current immigration rules for effectiveness or lack thereof before moving forward with any new programs.”
Day emphasized the importance of local leaders being involved in reforming the “broken” immigration system. He said the small town of Thomasville, with just over 3,500 people, would likely not be on board with resettling refugees.
“It is absolutely critical that citizens and leaders of our local community, county, and our state are given the opportunity to be directly involved with any effort to reform the broken immigration system,” Day said. “Local input and support is extremely vital to any discussion related to any consideration of creating refugee centers in any small town or city. Our little city has not had a conversation nor do I think we would consider any type of refugee center at this point without the citizens of our community agreeing to do so. As stated above, no new federal immigration programs or initiatives (including any new refugee centers) should be considered unless they are part of a comprehensive reform of our current broken immigration system.”
“Although congress, state legislators and other leaders have good intentions in their efforts to create safe harbor for the neediest of individuals…….there are many examples around our nation today where local communities have been left holding the bag and picking up the broken pieces when those 'good intentions' don’t match reality,” he explained. “The unintended consequences of well-intentioned legislation from Congress and our state legislature are always borne by the local communities and cities..…not by the writers of the legislation."
Also eluding to the humanitarian concerns, Day said it was important for citizens and leaders to work together to ensure Americans and refugees are able to live in a peaceful nation.
"It is our duty as citizens to work together for a solution to ensure our communities and our nation is once again a cherished haven to those who seek freedom from oppression," he added. "However, we must fix the broken immigration system that has created a nightmare in our nation for the refugees themselves as well as the communities they are placed in.”
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