Omaha welcomes refugees according to Mayor, County Board
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has penned a letter to U.S. Secretary of State, announcing Omaha's commitment to accepting refugees.
The Nebraska Governor's Office confirmed that Governor Pete Ricketts intended to inform the Trump administration that Nebraska will continue to welcome refugees into the state.
Migrants gather during clashes at a refugee camp on the eastern Greek island of Samos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. Clashes broke out between police and a group of migrants at a refugee camp in Samos island, prompting the local mayor to shut down a nearby elementary school and kindergarten. (AP Photo/Michael Svarnias)
U. S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September, requiring state and local governments to send a letter if they wish to continue accepting migrants fleeing dangerous areas around the world. Under the federal directive, these authorities must give written consent by Christmas.
Both the Omaha Mayor and the Douglas County Board indicated that they are supportive of resettled refugees from foreign nations to their local jurisdictions. Residents reacted to this news with some encouraging their leaders to focus on managing local government first.
Kim Fountain said on social media, “How about fixing the streets in north Omaha?”
Loni Williams responded likewise, “How about we first take care of our streets, veterans, homeless and needy before adding more to our plate.”
From October 2015 to September 2016, Nebraska welcomed 1,441 refugees. During the same period in 2019, just 445 refugees resettled in Nebraska, according to the Department of State’s Refugee Processing Center.
Letters submitted
On December 19, Governor Pete Rickets wrote a letter of supporting President Trump’s security policies, but the language did not clearly state that Nebraska “wants” or “gives consent” for refugee resettlement. The letter was also signed by Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa and Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota. “Thanks to your leadership, Americans can be confident once again in the screening process for refugees entering the United States,” the three Governors wrote in their letter. “We applaud the recent steps taken by the White House and State Department at your direction to strengthen vetting of refugees. This provides much-needed assurance about the program’s integrity to the communities welcoming refugees in our states.”
Mayor Jean Stothert’s letter to the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo read in part, "Omaha is a city built by immigrants who found a new beginning in the United States. Our city values a diverse and inclusive community. In our businesses, schools, churches and community organizations, inclusion is our pledge to welcome all."
On Tuesday, December 17, County Board Chair Chris Rodgers was charged by his colleagues with delivering a letter saying he consents to resettlement in Omaha.
Public institutions: County Board and Mayor
The embattled county commissioners unanimously supported the process by which these foreign nationals in plight are relocated to Douglas County. All four commissioners up for re-election on November 2020 have opponents who have identified the county vote to relocate juvenile detention downtown—while giving judges and legal services more space in those facilities— as a major cause to seek a seat on the county board. The $114 million justice plan is currently held up in district court. Commissioners Chris Rogers, Claire Duda, Marc Kraft, and Mike Boyle indicated they mean to be re-elected.
A number of Omahans expressed dissatisfaction with Mayor Stothert but gave high marks on her stated position. Vince Bogener commented on social media, “Good. I'm not a fan of Stothert, but this was the right move on every level.”
Brady Dodds offered that “Jean Stothert finally did something worth supporting.”
Adam Nutt quipped, “Well, in Omaha they say, Mean Jean's heart grew three sizes that day.” Others simply thanked the mayor or gave their “love.”
Prior to the letters being transmitted to federal authorities, Councilmember Rich Pahls of District 5 (Millard and surrounding areas) hinted on possible political posturing in the local scene during a council meeting on November 26, 2019. Pahls said regarding workload and pay this mayor faces, “Let’s take a look at what kind of mayor do we want? And I do truly hope we can squeeze another term out of the Mayor, because I have personally suggested that she run for governor, but she is not listening to me. We need to think about the type of mayor we are going to have in the future, whether it be our present mayor or another.”
Whatever the political considerations used, it was indeed a conservative decision in that the letters demonstrated continued welcome for refugees in Omaha, Douglas County, and Nebraska.