Duncan resident seeks court order to stop refugee resettlement in Spartanburg County

A Duncan resident is seeking a court order to stop refugees from resettling in Spartanburg County.

The action comes about a week after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard visited Spartanburg to answer questions about the refugee resettlement program. Lauren Martel, a Hilton Head-based attorney, sent Richard a letter demanding a halt to the program in its entirety.

Martel is representing Michelle Wiles, of Duncan, who has “already suffered potential damages as a result of this unilateral premature action,” Martel states in the letter.

Wiles said the refugee program is an unnecessary burden on the Spartanburg County taxpayers and believes the refugees who are resettling in Spartanburg have not been properly vetted.

“People are being brought here and we have no database to know even who they are,” Wiles said. “We’re supposed to just trust that their story checks out.”

During Richard’s visit last week, state department officials said since U.S. refugee resettlement is a federal program, it only needs approval from the state governments and not local governing bodies, such as the Spartanburg County Council.

Gov. Nikki Haley gave her support for the refugee resettlement in April. Spartanburg County Council has not taken any action on the matter.

A state Senate proviso added to the state’s budget in May specified that “no state funds shall be expended to assist in the United States Refugee Resettlement Program, unless the county council of the county where the resettlement is to occur approves the relocation.”

That proviso has raised concern with those opposing the program who fear state funds are being used without consent of the county.

Rep. Durham Cole, R-Spartanburg, said he received a response letter in May from the South Carolina Department of Social Services stating that no state funds were being used toward the program.

The withholding of state funds still allows federal funds to be channeled through the state’s DSS office, Cole said, which accounts for the already resettled refugees in Spartanburg.

More than 20 refugees already have been brought to Spartanburg. Those who have been here more than six weeks have found employment, said Jason Lee, local director of World Relief.

About 60 refugees are planned to come to the county this year. Lee said the refugees are eligible for government benefits for the first three months of living in the U.S.

World Relief is one of several nonprofit organizations across the country that partners with the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program.

Rep. Eddie Tallon, R-Spartanburg, said there is some confusion about how state funds will be used to help the refugees.

“There are still questions out there to be answered,” he said. “You get information from one side and information from another side and you’ve got to try to figure out what’s accurate.”

Some who have met the refugees already in Spartanburg say they only have the best intentions.

Janna White, an instructor at Spartanburg’s Adult Learning Center, mentors and teaches English to refugees and others. She said they are eager to learn, adding that many of the refugees work 12-hour shifts, five days a week.

“They are motivated to work. They’re not here for a handout. They are here to make a living for their families,” White said.

This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Duncan resident seeks court order to stop refugee resettlement in Spartanburg County."