Tf refugees fear whats next

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

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UPROAR OVER IMMIGRATION

DARIN OSWALD/IDAHO STATESMAN VIA AP

People protest against President Donald Trump’s travel ban on refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations, at Boise Airport in Boise on Sunday.

Refugees fear what’s next ALEX RIGGINS AND JULIE WOOTTON

ariggins@magicvalley.com jwootton@magicvalley.com

TWIN FALLS — As U.S. troops battled the Taliban for control of Fathe Noori’s hometown in western Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army veteran was offered a chance to become an interpreter for the U.S. military.

Noori seized the opportunity, working with American forces from 2009 to 2014. But his service to the U.S. came at a huge price. His father was later murdered in part because of Noori’s work.

And the Taliban placed a large bounty on Noori’s head.

“The Taliban orders the interpreter is the first target,” Noori said during an interview Monday at a Twin Falls coffee shop. “For each head of an interpreter, they will pay $25,000.”

One night, while driving home, a Taliban assassin tried stopping Noori’s

car and shooting him. He escaped unharmed.

Another time, Taliban fighters stopped Noori’s wife and young son, but local villagers intervened to save the mother and child.

Noori and his family lived in constant threat of the Taliban, yet he continued his important work translating for American soldiers. In 2012, he requested a visa to bring his family to the U.S. Two years later, after a long and arduous vetting process, he finally received that visa. But he continued to translate for U.S. soldiers until the day he left Afghanistan.

Finally, in April 2014, Noori and his family arrived in the United States as refugees.

Now, nearly three years after settling in Twin Falls, Noori is dismayed that President Donald Trump has halted the nation’s refugee resettlement program.

The order, signed Friday, bars refugee resettlement in the United States for 120 days and indefinitely for Syrian refugees. It also prohibits citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — from entering the U.S. for 90 days.

Noori says the move will endanger U.S. troops in the Middle East and cost the lives of people like him who are wanted for helping the “infidels.”

“The reality is, Mr. Donald Trump doesn’t know exactly who is the enemy and who is the friend,” Noori said. “Especially because he stopped the Special Immigration Visas. Because they are people who put their lives at risk to support this government, to support this people. In Iraq or Afghanistan. They are not your enemy. If they

Translator Fathe Noori has his portrait taken with his son Mobbasher, 2, in May 2014 at their apartment in Twin Falls.

DREW NASH, TIMES-NEWS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Please see REFUGEES, Page A5

Idaho GOP Clergy urge caution to back Trump refugee program scrutiny refugee halt TETONA DUNLAP

tdunlap@magicvalley.com

NATHAN BROWN

nbrown@magicvalley.com

BOISE — Idaho’s all-Republican congressional delegation have released statements generally supportive of President Donald Trump’s executive order putting a temporary halt on the refugee program and travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, although some criticized its implementation.

“The president is fulfilling his duty and promise to evaluate the screening process for those attempting to enter our country to ensure that these individuals are indeed safe and pose no threat to us,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, whose district includes the Magic Valley. “However, the administration could have and should have Please see GOP, Page A3

TWIN FALLS — President Donald Trump’s executive orders that temporarily suspends the U.S. refugee program and stops the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely brought an outcry from religious leaders across the country The executive order signed Friday suspends the entry of refugees into the United States for 120 days and directs officials to determine additional screening.

It also bars entry of nationals from seven predominately Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen — into the United States for 90 days.

Many leaders from various denominations and faiths were quick to condemn the order. In Twin Falls, leaders are more torn. Many say they see the need for more vetting and security, but at the same time want the U.S. to save those fleeing war and seeking safety.

Nearly 19,000 people have signed a

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statement promoted by the National Association of Evangelicals, who pledge to welcome refugees and urge elected officials to assist them. On Sunday, more than 550 people gathered to attend a Mass organized by young Catholics to show their solidarity with refugees, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the official body of the Church in America, declared that it “strongly opposes” Trump’s executive orders.

Trump said in a statement on Sunday the order is not a “Muslim ban.”

“This is not about religion — this is about terror and keeping our country safe,” he said in a statement. “There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order.”

The president said Christian refugees would be given priority status.

In 2016, slightly more Muslim refugees

BOISE — A Caldwell Republican has introduced a bill to require local authorities to comply with federal immigration detainers when they arrest someone and would take money away from cities or counties that try to become “sanctuary cities.”

The bill would ban police from stopping, searching or arresting someone solely due to immigration status, unless the officer is acting at the request of or has authority delegated to them by a federal agency — a notion discussed in two executive orders President Donald Trump signed last week, although there is much uncertainty about how this will be implemented.

Places that adopt a policy that “prohibits or discourages the enforcement of immigration laws” would lose their

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NEWS

Times-News

Refugees

Refugee Numbers

Here’s information from the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center were your enemy, they would kill about how many refugees were or do something back there to your resettled in Twin Falls from October soldiers, to your troops. But you can 2009 through late September 2015. see that they are supporting you.” Oct. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010 Noori said people waiting to come to the U.S. will be killed every Total: 228 day refugees are barred from the Burundi: 6 country — especially those like him Eritrea: 6 who helped the American military. Ethiopia: 4 The order has been widely crit- Burma: 25 icized by others who have dubbed Vietnam: 3 it a “Muslim ban” because of the Afghanistan: 3 way it offers priority to religious Bhutan: 144 minorities from Muslim-major- Iran: 16 ity nations. It has also prompted Iraq: 21 lawsuits by organizations like the Oct. 2, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011 American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Total: 185 Relations. On Saturday, in response Unknown: 1 to the ACLU lawsuit, a U.S. District Eritrea: 21 Court judge in New York issued an Ethiopia: 2 emergency order blocking depor- Burma: 44 tations of those who’d already ar- Afghanistan: 6 rived in U.S. airports.

Bhutan: 94 Locally, the order casts doubts on Iran: 7 the future of the College of South- Iraq: 10 ern Idaho Refugee Center. The Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2012 refugee resettlement agency has provided services to thousands of Total: 196 refugees entering Twin Falls since Eritrea: 22 the 1980s.

Ethiopia: 6 Director Zeze Rwasama said Sudan: 9 Monday they’ll continue helping Burma: 58 refugees who are already in Twin Afghanistan: 3 Falls and he’s hopeful resettle- Bhutan: 74 ment will resume later this year.

He’s getting phone calls from refugees, who’ve expressed sadness hasn’t heard an update about their and surprise. travel status and still needs clari“The refugees are affected big fication about whether they’ll be time because they have family allowed entry. members on the other side,” he That lack of clarity about what said, who they’re hoping will come will happen is the most striking join them in Twin part of the order, which has sowed Falls. confusion among various federal Rwasama — agencies tasked with implementwho’s in Puerto ing the travel restrictions. Rep. Raúl Rico this week at Labrador, R-Idaho, while offering an international support for Trump’s order to reimmigration con- view the refugee vetting process, ference — said he’s also criticized the way the White telling refugees to House implemented the executive Rwasama be patient. A fam- order. ily from the Democratic Republic “They failed to provide clear of the Congo arrived in Twin Falls guidance on the policy, which on Thursday night — the day before caused substantial confusion at Trump signed the executive order the ports of entry,” Labrador said halting refugee admissions. in a statement.

“They didn’t have any issues,” Twin Falls Mayor Shawn BariRwasama said. “At that time, the gar said it’s hard to interpret the executive order until the federal executive order was not signed.”

On Monday, a young couple from government finishes reviewing Afghanistan filled out paperwork the vetting process. He said it’s at the CSI Refugee Center as their especially difficult to interpret the toddler-aged son played nearby. It portion of the order that says state was their first full day in the United and local jurisdictions “may have States, after arriving in Twin Falls greater involvement in the process on Sunday night. of determining the placement or Seven refugees — a Nepalese resettlement of refugees in their family of three and Congolese fam- jurisdictions.” ily of four — are slated to arrive in “The balance of order is take a Twin Falls this Wednesday. The pause and review the vetting profamilies received approval and were cess,” Barigar said. “It’s hard to scheduled to come before Trump’s push those decisions down to the executive order went into effect, local level while the federal governbut there’s still uncertainty about ment is still looking at it.”

He said when the federal review whether they’ll arrive. Rwasama From A1

Clergy From A1

(38,901) were admitted to the U.S., compared with 37,521 Christian refugees, according to Pew Research Center data.

Here is how local religious leaders have reacted to Trump’s executive order.

The Rev. Kathleen McKevitt, Unity Spiritual Center of Southern Idaho‌ “I foundered and paced over the weekend when the innocent was barred from their travel plans.

There are now legal issues before the president that indicate that he didn’t know what he was doing.

Hundreds of people were with the elderly, little children and were to a one treated like McKevitt chattel, for hours and days. Where is the good in this act? I started to judge. Then when I turned to my faith it was clear I was not on the right path. Where was the ultimate good in my thinking?

When we look to our faith we know what we must do. We must pray, yes, for this President, who must feel lost and demeaned.

We pray for him to be sent positive support and strength and a way forward. We can expect a miracle that his ego is strengthened into solid truth; strong and positive allies will rally to him and a relationship with God will emerge. We must recognize that is a time for lifting up, knowing that as we align with love’s ways, we become a continuing light of support. We cannot fix ourselves if we start with anger and hate. No matter what, we must start with love. In this case, we’re not trying to make the president better, but rather to initiate the thoughts and activities of Love. They, the spirit of them, will bring out the best in us.”

The Rev. Paul Thompson of Eastside Southern Baptist‌ “As a church, we conduct ourselves and order ourselves by Scripture and not by our government. If our country allows refugees in, we will minister to them. If they are here, we care for them, regardless of where Thompson they are from. ...

I, as a person, I’m not in favor of our government giving privileges to any particular segment.

Iran: 12 Iraq: 12

Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013 Total: 246

Eritrea: 35 Ethiopia: 4 Sudan: 24 Burma: 55 Afghanistan: 15 Bhutan: 56 Iran: 14 Iraq: 43

Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014 Total: 260

Congo: 1 Egypt: 1 Eritrea: 14 Rwanda: 1 Sudan: 49 Burma: 35 Afghanistan: 15 Bhutan: 64 Iran: 9 Iraq: 71

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 | A5

got education related issues … and it will help them to focus on their primary mission, which is education.”

Deborah Silver, a Democratic candidate last year who lost her race for the state senate, is part of the group Magic Valley Refugee Advocates. She criticized Trump’s order for the way it was implemented and said the vetting process for refugees is already good enough.

“Of course we want our country to be safe,” Silver said. “But the vetting process is very strong already.”

Silver said targeting specific religions is a problem, the way the order was implemented “was appalling,” and refugees are nervous.

Refugees afraid‌

Oct. 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2015 Total: 304

Congo: 50 Eritrea: 66 Ethiopia: 2 Sudan: 55 Burma: 23 Afghanistan: 22 Estonia: 1 Bhutan: 22 Iran: 14 Iraq: 46 Pakistan: 3

is done, the City Council will welcome community input.

“But that would be a community conversation to have once the federal government completes their review of the program and has some facts and findings, so there can be an educated conversation about what they may have found in the program,” Barigar said. “I think people stepping up right now to share their sentiments about refugee resettlement, absent that federal review, would be kind of counterproductive.”

Rick Martin, an outspoken opponent of refugee resettlement and head of the Committee to End the CSI Refugee Center, praised the executive order.

“I’m really excited about what President Trump has done,” Martin said. “We’ve been trying to get Congress to do something like this for a long time.”

Martin, who ran unsuccessfully for election to the CSI board of trustees, also circulated a petition last year for a ballot measure to ban refugee centers in Twin Falls County. The petition needed 3,842 signatures to get on the May 2016 ballot but got just 892 signatures.

Martin will continue working to stop the CSI program locally, he said, because the federal ban is temporary.

“Ultimately, I feel CSI needs to get out of the refugee resettlement business,” Martin said. “They’ve

... I want to have the confidence that the government is properly vetting them for the safety of all the citizens. If they are here, we stand ready to help anyone. Where we do give care to anyone, we are also are very clear to identify the differences in religion and we see there are clear differences in Christianity and Islam, but the differences we identify are not identifiers to stop to care or stop giving aid to someone.”

The Rev. Michael Habib of St. Ignatius of Antioch Church‌ His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America has not issued an official statement.

“If he deems it necessary, he will put out a statement,” said the Rev. Michael Habib of St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Twin Falls. “He doesn’t want individual priests commenting on it.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints‌ According to a church statement: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned about the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of God’s children across the earth, with special

That was certainly what Solomon Tekle felt Monday. Tekle, who arrived in Twin Falls about five years ago as a refugee, said he’s worried about the situation with halting refugee resettlement.

He prays that Trump will change or improve the situation and says other refugees are worried.

Tekle asked a Times-News reporter: Will the government turn me back to my home country?

Despite his concerns, Tekle — an Eritrean refugee who moved from Ethiopia — said he likes Trump and stopping Syrian refugees is a good decision. He said he’s worried about the spread of Al Qaeda terrorists.

“In this issue, it is a good decision,” he said. “Otherwise, I’m worried about me and other refugees.”

Tekle is from a Christian family and came to the United States for a better life. He came to Twin Falls with his wife, and they have since separated. They have a daughter.

The Times-News reached out to about a dozen local refugees Monday. Several said they didn’t want to comment. Others either didn’t respond to inquiries or said they were too busy at work to talk.

Since Oct. 1, the CSI Refugee Center has resettled 133 refugees.

It was slated to receive up to 300 total by the end of September.

Idaho typically receives about 1,000 refugees each year, with approximately 70 percent in Boise and 30 percent in Twin Falls.

On Monday at the CSI Refugee Center, employees were helping the new family from Afghanistan and a group of children wearing Clover Christian School T-shirts filed into the meeting room. Plastic bags and cardboard bins full of donations — such as clothing, shoes, toys and diapers — were stacked up inside near the front door. Rena Garibyan, a coordinator for English classes at the center, had just wrapped up a class that morning and was working with two women on paperwork.

She told one woman she’d teach her how to call and schedule a taxi

concern for those who are fleeing physical violence, war and religious persecution. The Church urges all people and governments to cooperate fully in seeking the best solutions to meet human needs and relieve suffering.”

ride. “We’re going to practice tomorrow,” Garibyan told her. “Got it? Thank you very much.”

Garibyan — who arrived in the United States with her husband 26 years ago as a refugee from Azerbaijan in the former Soviet Union — said her students have been asking her questions about the executive order and don’t really know what’s going on.

She talked with her Friday afternoon classes about it. She said she wants facts on Trump’s executive order and wants clarification from his administration. And she won’t share her opinion with students until that happens.

Nearly two years ago, controversy around refugee resettlement started brewing in Twin Falls.

During a 2015 presentation to the CSI board, Rwasama said he expected to receive refugees in Twin Falls from possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Syria.

Crowds began showing up at CSI meetings expressing opposition and voicing worries about an influx of radical Muslims. There haven’t been any Syrian refugees resettled through the CSI Refugee Center.

Rwasama said Monday he hasn’t heard any opposition to local refugee resettlement lately. And he said he hopes if Trump’s administration is going to redesign the refugee program, that it will address concerns so everyone feels confident they’re safe and the vetting process for refugees is adequate.

For fiscal year, the total number of refugees from all countries allowed into the United States will drop from more than 100,000 to 50,000.

Trump’s order has sparked widespread protests and denunciations from Democrats and a handful of Republicans. Many have accused the administration of rushing to implement the changes, resulting in panic and confusion at the nation’s airports.

Citizens of the seven countries with a 90-day travel ban who hold permanent U.S. residency “green cards” will not be barred from re-entering the U.S., as officials had previously said. It remains unclear what kind of additional screening they will now face.

Trump is vigorously defending his immigration restrictions, as protests spread throughout the country, saying “this is about terror and keeping our country safe.”

Trump released a statement asserting, “To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting.”

Rwasama said he’s concerned about preventing Syrian refugees from accessing resettlement. The U.S. should have a system that can vet refugees from any country, he added. By singling out Syrian refugees and denying them entry into the U.S., he said, the executive order shows “a sense of weakness presented to the world.”

the teachings of Christ as found in the Gospels, compel us to have a heart of compassion for all people ... regardless of national origin or religious background. Our prayer is both for the safety of our nation and for those who are in the unfortunate predicament of being persecuted and only seek to have a better life.”

The Revs. Lynn and Dorette Schaal of Amazing Grace Fellowship‌ The Rev. Matt Woodroof “According to the actual exec- of Buhl Calvary Assembly utive order, this is a not a travel/ immigration restriction based of God‌ upon religion. It is a temporary m o ra to r i u m / pause on people traveling from seven countries whose governments have limited ability to provide vetting credentials necSchaal essary for the US government to make a comprehensive determination as to whether or not they (the potential immigrant) meet the necessary requirements of our (U.S.) immigration policy. In light of that, I think all Americans hope to ensure that no immigrants with evil/terrorist intent ever enters our country. America has demonstrated in the past our openness as a nation to receive refugee immigrants regardless of their religious faith. In addition,

“I agree that priority should be give to the Christian refugees who are running for their lives. At Buhl Calvary Assembly of God we believe and practice to Woodroof be open to having a mission’s heart toward those coming into our country seeking help from war in their home country. It’s the heartbeat of Jesus. We are praying for God’s will to be done and praying for the persecuted church. Many Christians are killed all over the world because of the extremist groups out there. We should also protect our country from any extremist group. Looking back to 9/11 was not only a painful day for the U.S. but for the other good citizens of the world.”

SERVICES Thelma Mae Stone‌

day, February 1, 2017 at White Twin Falls. (Farmer Funeral Mortuary, 136 4th Ave. East, Chapel) Twin Falls. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m.Tuesday at White Sherry A. Gotchy‌ Mortuary, Twin Falls.

TWIN FALLS — Sherry A. Gotchy of Twin Falls, celebration of life at 2 p.m.

Paul Ciocca‌ WENDELL—Paul Ciocca Friday, February 3, 2017 at of Wendell, graveside ser- Serenity Funeral Chapel Life vice at 10 a.m. Thursday, Celebration Center & CreFebruary 2, at the Wendell mation Services of Idaho, 502 Virginia Goff‌ TWIN FALLS—Virginia Cemetery. A celebration of 2nd Ave. North, Twin Falls.

Goff of Twin Falls, celebra- life at 11 a.m. at The Stone Parking is available at Magic tion of life at 2 p.m. Wednes- House, 330 4th Ave South, Valley High School.

EDEN — Thelma Mae Stone of Eden, funeral at 2 pm Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at White Mortuary, Chapel by the Park, 136 4th Ave E. Twin Falls; visitation 1 hr. prior to the service from 1 to 1:45 p.m.

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JT Bennett‌

RUPERT – JT Bennett of Rupert, funeral at 11 a.m.

Friday, February 3, 2017 at the Rupert West LDS Stake Center, 26 S. 100 W., of Rupert. Visitation is from 10 until 10:45 a.m. preceding the service at the church.

(Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley)

Tremblay of Twin Falls, memorial service at 1 p.m. Friday, February 3, at the First Church of the Nazarene.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Home.

LaVonne Kibbee‌

TWIN FALLS—LaVonne Kibbee of Twin Falls, celebration of life at 1 p.m. Friday, Michael Tremblay‌ February 3 at Parke’s Magic TWIN FALLS — Michael Valley Funeral Home, 2551

Kimberly Road, Twin Falls

Viva Jones‌

TWIN FALLS – Viva Jones, funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 4, at Twin Falls LDS 9th Ward Church, 2680 Elizabeth Blvd., Twin Falls; viewing Friday from 6-8 pm at White Mortuary “Chapel by the Park” and one hour prior to the service from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.