A supposed plan by the nonprofit group Exodus Refugee Immigration to resettle a Syrian family in Indianapolis next month until Gov. Mike Pence joined more than half of the nation's governors in calling for a halt of all refugees from the civil war-torn country has now led the group to join the ACLU of Indiana in filing a lawsuit against the state of Indiana, which accuses Gov. Pence of violating the refugees' right to equal protection under the U.S. Constitution because Gov. Pence didn't call for a halt of refugees from other countries. The lawsuit is perplexing for no other reason than Gov. Pence lacked any real authority to block Exodus from resettling Syrian immigrants.
When Exodus announced last week that it was sending the Syrian family to Connecticut instead of Indiana in response to Gov. Pence's announcement last week, Connecticut's liberal Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy quickly called a press conference at which he hurled personal insults at Gov. Pence, accusing him of being a bigot and re-stirring the debate over the enactment of Indiana's RFRA law, not unlike one Malloy's own state had enacted years earlier, by claiming Pence had signed the legislation into law because he was homophobic. Exodus, under federal law, could have proceeded with the resettlement of the Syrian family in Indianapolis as it claims it planned to do, but it chose to politicize the event and make an example of only Indiana and its governor.
Neighboring Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, who is Jewish and Republican, was not targeted by the group after he joined Pence and other governors in calling for a temporary halt on Syrian refugees due to concerns some terrorists tied to ISIS were using refugee resettlement programs as a gateway into the United States. Exodus has ignored Gov. Rauner and continued resettling Syrian immigrants in the Chicago area without filing a lawsuit against him or the state of Illinois. "Exodus continues to welcome refugees, including Syrians arriving in Chicago, because we trust the secure vetting process the U.S. government, the federal government has put in place," Julie Carsen, a senior director of programs at Exodus told the Chicago Sun-Times. Similarly, the Jewish Federation of Chicago, which like Exodus contracts with the State Department to resettle refugees, told the Sun-Times it was proceeding as if nothing had changed following Gov. Rauner's announcement.
So let there be no doubt that Indiana is once again ground zero for yet another psyop being waged against this state by people seeking to radically transform this nation. Also, never forget that the ACLU was behind the very RFRA law Gov. Pence signed into law earlier this year. The ACLU helped draft the original federal law passed by Congress more than two decades ago with near unanimous support and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The ACLU of Indiana had nothing but words of condemnation when the Indiana General Assembly passed and Gov. Pence signed RFRA into law here.
36 comments:
The ICLU no doubt also supports the ACLU suit to compel a Catholic Hospital to perform abortions. What these public enemies actually want to keep in play is the resistance to RFRA's instructing judges to strict compliance with laws that come from legislatures. ACLU and ICLU would much prefer shopping forums for dumb ass and corrupt judges of which there are a great number. Pence, as part author of the bill restricting civil liberties following 9/11 should have known better than to consult with the ICLU sorts for advice since the ICLU are snakes and it is in their nature to bite even hands that feed them.
Gary, did Illinois send the same type of letter that the Indiana FSSA sent?
Or, the devil's advocate argument, Pence is an epic dumb-ass with a perplexing inability to foresee the natural consequences of his actions. He goes his own way despite the ready and available advice of more reasonable heads to advise him, and he has a big target on him now and a reputation as a homophobe and a bigot, which will not serve him well. He could have listened to those who counseled him that rfra was going to blow up in his face and that he shouldn't sign that original law; he could have listened to those who counseled him to wait and not join the original six governors refusing to take refugees, an obvious flashpoint decision made off the cuff without foreseeing every likely consequence; and he isn't listening to the corporate and university communities on the matter of the nondiscrimination matter, which is going to slam him again and again in the national media. He brings it all on himself, because even though he is the governor of all of us, he only represents Christian right interests and refuses to hear opposing opinions.
The FSSA letter was meaningless because it was couched in the form of a request, which is essentially what all of the state governors making similar pronouncements have done. The feds control the refugee resettlement process and the states are without power to do anything other than beg, plead and cajole the feds. I'm not even convinced Congress can do anything anymore since it appears its members have ceded dictatorial powers to King Obama.
I read a copy of the letter sent by Adrienne Shields Director of FSSA to Carleen Miller of Exodus Refugee Immigration suspending resettlement of additional Syrian Refugees in the State of Indiana by all state agencies. So if I understand this right
Governor Pence can decide who will receive assistance from the State of Indiana and who will not. He can apparently direct the State to deny services to anyone he decides should not receive them. I gather Pence thinks he has a legal right to suspend assistance to anyone he determines should not receive State Assistance. So Pence can also decide if some Cuban Refugees should be denied State Services because they could be a threat to spread Castro-Marxism to Indiana.
Anon 10:23 - Spot on. My thoughts exactly. It's like people in Indiana have no clue how their actions are going to perceived and no notion of just how important it is to get out ahead of this nonsense. Pence is indeed an epic dumb-ass, but it plays well across Hoosieria, so there's that.
Not only are we not ahead of the curve on this, we're behind it. Anyone with a cursory legal or constitutional background ought understand we can't interfere with federal resettlement of international refugees. Even if they were brought thru a central clearinghouse like Ellis Island they're free to relocate at will. So we just look like a backwater without legal counsel when we send off letters begging to opt out. "Please sir. Don't send any refugees to our little shire." Snort. It will have to be sorted out in Washington between the administration, the intelligence and homeland security powers and congress. Indiana can't do much more than local surveillance and intelligence field work. Its for homeland security and our state police to work out. Our representatives in Congress are competent to address our federal legislative options. But Pence doesn't play much of a role in this unless he intends to bluster about with the national guard; that would be a photo op certain to bring on national scorn; if he would just think; doesn't that guy have any counsel? He represents all of us. You ought to be concerned he's such a dufus. You want to take a position. Ask Pence to shut up. Support whatever nondiscrimination law Indiana University and Purdue support, and stop embarrassing us.
The devil is in the details, n'est pas? Why don't we offer Exodus Refugee Immigration fifty of the "best of the worst" vacant homes in the Indianapolis land bank for Syrian resettlement purposes; the catholic charity can fix them up. They will revitalize our neighborhoods. We can concentrate the refugees in inner city Indianapolis which will make it easier for surveillance. It won't cost us anything. In fact, they can begin paying property taxes. Instead of popping off that we don't want them, maybe we can figure out a reason why we do want them and help make that happen, in numbers we can manage. We have 15,000 vacant homes in Indianapolis, most of them currently held by the Indianapolis land bank, which are available for repurposing. I don't support local tax monies to pay for some new program, but free up the vacant houses, let charities take it from there, and Pence can stand out front and claim the high ground.
Sort of on topic. Observation after returning from
Cancun.
America is a caricature of what it thinks of itself. Mexican TSA and Border Patrol dominates our theatrical versions in efficiency and friendliness while actually seeming to be more effective and competent. Ours is just a jobs program.
Ahahahahahah The American Criminal Liberties Union! Here is the right question:
How much do they get from Soros?
10:23 is spot on. Pence brought this on himself and unfortunately, upon Indiana.
If you have spent money to resettle a refugee family in Indiana, like Exodus has, you sue in Indiana. When Paranoid Pence suspends resettlement he tells state agencies like family services to end the cooperation that had been provided in the past. Exodus is not a stand alone entity but works in cooperation with the state to provide the necessary tools for successful resettlement. We have experienced enough so as to disregard more of Pence's proclamations from the pulpit.
After Putin turns Turkey into a parking lot, are we going to have to accept Turkish refugees, as well?
First of all, anon. 12:51, it's not Exodus' money; it's our money. The organization is generously paid by our government to provide resettlement services. FSSA had not withheld funds from anyone in violation of federal law. If it had, the federal government, which controls the purse springs on all of these welfare services, could penalize the state by withholding funds as it threatens states all the time. A lawsuit at this point against this state and this governor was chosen for purely political motivations that have nothing to do about what's in the best interests of those refugees or the people of this country.
Hmm. Just like Pence's political motivations for making a pronouncement he has no power to enforce? Exodus is protecting itself and its interests. Pence, according to all of his statements, seems to believe he has the right to stop resettlement of refugees in Indiana. Before sticking some poor guinea pig refugees here, its goign to get a Court to tel Pence he can't interfere with that.
BTW, Gary, you well know that our RFRA law was not the same as the federal law or any other state rfra law.
2016 is a month away- it's here. Two can play the executive order game. It's time in America for a showdown between the runaway lawlessness of this administration & the will of the people. It's also time this administration was introduced to the equal application of the law which binds us as a nation; for its known & ongoing violations...
Governor Pence is the state's executive, charged with promoting the general welfare & interest if our citizens. The non-standard, taxpayer funded, Syrian "relocation" scheme is a violation of American sovereignty, in conflict with the interests of American citizens. Constructive knowledge suggests the state should notify Exodus & other abusive public treasury schemes, "faith based" or otherwise; that they're engaged in the for profit human trafficking of unqualified refugees & thereby prospective fraud & treason.
Has anyone considered the "dead beat dad" status of Syrian men abandoning families? The ACLU is d-lusional; believing it can survive the corruption it promotes...
The law did not differ, Paul. The language changes it added were taken directly from federal court decision interpreting the law. If you consider that making it different, then you are correct. The fact is that it would have been interpreted and applied no differently. It was the "fix" demanded by the pot stirrers that made it differ from the original law.
Here's some reading for the faint of smart: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/24/sen-sessions-reveals-15-refugee-jihadis-hopes-shrink-obamas-2016-refugee-budget/
Beyond divisive: The Dem's want control of Indiana's Governors office. Therefore, get the ACLU to sue - AGAIN. The City already has "Hog"sett. Indianapolis already has been importing Chicago murderers, not that we didn't already have enough of our own.
The mosque in Plainfield has been listed as one of the most radical in the United States and now, "Brainless", with open arms, supports the construction of yet another fort for our enemies near Ditch Road and 146th Street. Who in their right mind welcomes an enemy, allows the building of a fort in their backyard and then imports potentially thousands to man walls of that fort.
Wondering who sold the property,wonder how much it sold for, wonder who paid for the property and in what form, (Arboon?) wonder if there were real estate agents involved, wonder what attorney group was involved, just wondering about many unanswered questions. Is Keystone Construction going to build the place?
How is there a justiciable "case or controversy" for a judge to rule on if Gov. Pence has no authority to block refugee resettlement? What relief can the judiciary grant? Sounds like this is ripe for a Motion to Dismiss.
BTW, Art. 1, section 8 gives Congress the sole power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization," so a better approach would have been for the governors to sign an open letter asking Congress to restrict the resettlement operations.
Contract woes smell like money grubbing related to public treasury rustling; not Constitutional concern. Treating Americans like ATM's rather than citizens; should earn Exodus an investigation, regarding commissions paid for human trafficking; knowingly & negligently violating the rights of Americans by exposing them to security risks. No- we don't have to put up with this crap.
It would be useful to look at locally settled "refugees" and crime statistics, which is being done in places like Atlanta: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/2-investigates-local-refugees-deported-violent-cri/npSxz/
Really Boggs, you think Exodus is about human trafficking? Take a nap.
Their emphasis on contract invites suspicion regarding their motives.
Just plain crap. Here we go again giving free services and money to people from other countries. We can not give those on Social Security a raise for 2016 but you want more free stuff for people from other countries.
Help our citizens first then maybe some of us will understand the need to help them..
Exodus is supported by volunteers and donors and thus have the right to sue outside of what the Feds may contribute.
I wasn't a fan of RFRA at the expense of discriminating our gays, but I do think Gov. Pence is being very very prudent.
Essentially it appears that ISIS is a proxy terrorist army of the US Government -- armed, trained, funded by us. This is the most messed up thing I've seen in my lifetime.
It is pitting and dividing Americans even more. I'm genuinely concerned about another government aided and abetted terrorist act on American soil. I'm equally concerned it will cause further erosion of our rights.
There is evidence that every Syrian refugee is not the model citizen we would hope for. . . yet the vast majority are desperate people fleeing a certain persecution and death from their home countries. They are fleeing because of the untenable situation in their homeland caused by American foreign policy.
My biggest concern is why is America funding, training, and arming ISIS?
And where is the vocal anti-war left?
Other ideas are developing, with regard to suing negligent non-profits: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2015/11/can_we_hold_nonprofits_legally_liable_for_sponsoring_jihadi_immigrants.html
We suffer from"Terminal Jurisprudence".
Communist African-American Angela Davis, given a professorship at a state funded California college, acknowledges that the plan is for the USA to be a country of refugees. Thank goodness Indiana does not agree with California.
My argument isn't with Exodus's standing to sue (though it may indeed not have standing) but with the question of justiciability. If Gov. Pence -- as countless outlets have noted -- has no power to enforce a "ban" on refugee resettlement, then the judiciary has no issue to resolve. It would be tantamount to suing Gov. Pence because one disagrees with the property tax assessment on one's home.
Here's more in the ongoing attempt to reach the faint of smart: http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/11/26/diplomat-venezuela-sold-immigration-documents-to-hezbollah-terrorists/
Gary, I gotta be honest. No disrespect, but I am (scratching my head) disappointed in you and in Ogden for continuing to defend and conflate Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. You conflate CT's ( a state that has allowed gay marriage since 2008) **22 year-old** RFR act with Indiana's year-old act and fail to address what an insulting anachronism this inadequate legislation is.
Reading your commentary alone would leave a reader to believe that CT's RFR act was in the same league as Indiana's which it so clearly is not. CT clearly handles the issues of religion and discrimination very differently; whereas the Indiana legislature is merely capable of demagoguery through the lazy and incompetent use of outdated boiler-plate legislation aimed at dividing its constituents for political gains.
I'm sure CT has plenty of problems, but please don't use the age-old "conservative" Hoosier tactic of drawing attention to your opponent's many flaws in order to rebut a question about your own party's misconduct.
Yes -there have been a number of frivolous lawsuits due to cupcakes, that I personally disagree with, but the RFR was not an acceptable solution to this, and there were many opportunist supporters of it who had clearly discriminatory views towards LGBT community, who among other things supported the idea of terminating LGBT employees from jobs on the basis on their sexuality. I suppose you have never been discriminated against on the basis of your sexuality?
You seem to not understand what an embarrassment this form of pandering demagoguery is, how it flies in the face of civility, and what is more troubling is that you aren't embarrassed that CT's law was passed over TWENTY years ago.
A sizable portion of the country has done the work of becoming a great deal more tolerant in the last twenty years or so. It was not as if people were waiting around for Indiana to do something that could be twisted into a controversy.
The fact that the law was signed behind closed doors without any press present and in the presence of only one type of religious constituent says it all.
Now, referring to Exodus. They are standing up for actual freedom, which shamefully does not seem to be a concept that Hoosiers understand or value. The response to Exodus further demonstrates that a good portion of Hoosiers are...
Anon 1:58: Balkanization is fashion of the dead; the ephemera of dead cultures. Anachronism would be cultures who no longer exist; due to their failure to value that which was their foundation; starting with common language. No common language, no common law, no culture. Once an empire, Rome is fortunate to be a city & but one example.
This stuff isn't that hard. Everyone breathing has been discriminated against in one way or another. Religious freedom is fundamental to the nation's founding & therefore enshrined in the FIRST Amendment. The right to associate is also the right to disassociate & the ability to say "no" is the difference between liberty & tyranny. Forced association is the unenlightened tripe of cultural card check; that no amount of cool kid syndromic hip disease will cure. Forget that BS wannabe little brother crap- CT?!? Sure... people in coffee shops or sitting around campfires can't say enough about... CT?!?
We know Exodus "stands for" a contractual claim on the exodus of dollars from the public treasury; which invites suspicion regarding their motives.
Hey Pete.
Let's be clear; you have done absolutely nothing to effectively rebut my points but instead have done everything in your power to keep denying their salience.
I am talking about keeping our culture alive and having enough faith in its ability to evolve in accordance with any historical development.
Pete, I ask you where your outrage is towards the geopolitical players who created this refugee crisis in the first place? I ask you what Christ would want of a Christian.
Do you think these refugees enjoy having nothing and having nowhere to go? Do you think they enjoy having witnessed the death of their neighbors and of their families?
They are terrorism's ultimate victims yet you are happy to encourage others to turn their backs against them because they aren't like you!
I ask you Pete, according to Christ, should we protect the right to discriminate or should we encourage the strength to tolerate radically ?
I don't know if you are keeping up with the news in Colorado tonight?
An anachronism is:
An anachronism (from the Greek ἀνά ana, "against" and χρόνος khronos, "time") is a chronological inconsistency in some arrangement, especially a juxtaposition of person(s), events, objects, or customs from different periods of time.
The arch of history bends towards justice.
You seem to see justice as continued exclusion.
Anon 11:04: Geopolitical players, refugee crisis??? Your problem isn't one of etymology but logic. Who exactly, are the "terrorists" & who are the "victims?" Aren't like... me?!? To be clear, we, wherever "we" are, are at the center of our sphere of influence; meaning people abandoning their families don't translate as "refugees." The trajectory or "arch" of multiculturalism, is death of of the host culture. Again, this stuff isn't that hard.
CO shooter is supposed to mean what to who(?): http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/28/colorado-springs-gunman-unknown-to-pro-lifers-in-area/
Post a Comment