BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Additional North Dakota counties won’t have to face a decision on whether to resettle more refugees, an issue that has drawn passionate responses on both sides of the issue.
Burleigh, Grand Forks and Cass counties have voted to accept additional refugees. A recent executive order by President Donald Trump stated that new efforts to resettle refugees would have to receive permission from state and local governments. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced last month that the state would continue to receive refugees as long as local governments agreed.
Lutheran Social Services, which handles all of North Dakota’s refugee resettlement cases, says it will not be asking for consent from any more North Dakota counties because it resettles refugees only in the state’s three most populous counties.
“The sites must meet criteria such as availability of affordable housing, employment opportunities, access to public transportation, availability of ’English Language Learners’ (teachers) and interpreters, etc.” said Shirley Dykshoorn, a Lutheran Social Services vice president.
Morton County Commissioner Bruce Strinden said he’s glad refugee resettlement won’t be an issue in his county, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
“Most commissioners, I think if you asked them, probably wouldn’t look forward to a four-hour meeting that can turn pretty contentious,” he said.
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